Month: June 2022

Soon after he received summons from the Enforcement Directorate, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged there was a conspiracy to stop him from fighting a big battle and said that even if he is beheaded, he “will not take the Guwahati route.”

According to official sources, the ED has summoned the Shiv Sena leader for questioning, on Tuesday, in a money laundering case. The move comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra in which rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are camping in Guwahati.
Raut further said that Balasaheb’s Shivsainiks were fighting a big battle.

“I just came to know that ED has summoned me. Good! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb’s Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won’t take the Guwahati route. Arrest me!” tweeted Sanjay Raut

Raut has been asked to appear before the ED investigators at its regional office in Mumbai at 11 am tomorrow, said an official privy to the development.

The summons has been issued in connection with the re-development of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl.

In April this year, the ED had also attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar, in connection with the redevelopment scam. Swapna is the wife of Sujit Patkar, a close associate of the Sena leader.

The federal agency said its investigation revealed that around Rs 100 crore was transferred from the real estate company, HDIL, to the account of Pravin Raut, who in turn diverted part of these funds to various accounts of his close associates, family members, and business entities.

Praveen Raut has been a director in an infrastructure company called Guruashish Constructions and is stated to be a subsidiary of the HDIL (Housing Development Infrastructure Limited), an accused in the case. Pravin Raut was arrested in the past by the Maharashtra police’s economic offences wing.

The ED’s summon to Raut, who is considered to be a confidant of Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, comes amidst mounting trouble for the party in the wake of internal rebellion.

The federal agency has also been probing Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case against Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha Raut who was questioned last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the central probe agency.

The agency is probing her role in the alleged bank loan scam with regard to the transfer of Rs 55 lakh funds by the wife of an accused in the case, Pravin Raut, apart from some other transactions.

Last year, the ED had also attached Pravin Raut’s assets worth Rs 72 crore in this case and has questioned him and his wife Madhuri Raut.

The agency had alleged that Pravin Raut had “siphoned off “Rs 95 crore worth funds from the scam-hit bank in the garb of loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Raut who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Varsha Raut, wife of Sanjay Raut, as “interest-free loan.” (ANI)

Afghanistan’s education department on Monday stated that nearly 70 per cent of schools in Nuristan province do not have buildings.

The Nuristan province has a total of 214 schools, but only 60 of these schools have buildings, Tolo News reported citing the education department officials.
The officials have stated that temporary tents must be used at these schools to address the problem.

Nuristan’s education director Mawlawi Tah Motamen said, “In order to make progress in building the structures, we constantly share this problem with every responsible institution to solve our problem.”

Students and residents of the Nuristan province have complained that thousands of students have been studying for years with difficulties and without buildings, which has had a negative impact on them, the local media reported.

“Our school is quite distant from the village, I want to learn, we have many problems in this school, we do not have a pen, a booklet, or a book. When it rains, our school is closed, and we study here in the sweltering heat. We ask that the government solve this problem,” said Habiba, a student.

“We are coming here from far villages, our road is damaged, we climb this mountain every day and we are afraid of falling. The government should create a school and a road for us so that we can easily come to our classes,” said Aisha, another student.

The teachers and residents of the province have also complained about the lack of educational materials in the schools, and have requested the Islamic Emirate to pay serious attention to their problems.

“I had been teaching them under the shade of trees, and we have no pens or paper,” said Mohammad Hanif, a teacher.

“I am very happy that students are coming and studying,” said Nuristan’s resident Shah Khan.

Presently, 36,000 students including 16,000 females are enrolled in the 214 schools in the Nuristan province, and female students above sixth grade are still not allowed to attend schools, as per the official figures.

The condition of education in Afghanistan has deteriorated in Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country in August last year, and several decisions were taken that deprived young girls and women of their humanitarian rights.

Taliban, in its official order earlier, directed female staff members of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to wear the hijab at offices and has also curtailed Afghan women from wearing make-up and reproductive rights, ban on education for girls from classes 6 and above being an add on.

However, although the Taliban’s Ministry of Education has assured that the schools for girls in grades 7-12 will be reopened in the near future, there have been hardly any developments so far. (ANI)

Delhi Police arrested one person after a scuffle broke out between two groups over some financial dispute in the Jahangirpuri area on Sunday night.

A police official said that a PCR call was received regarding stone-pelting in Jahangirpuri at around 7:43 p.m. After which a police team immediately reached the spot and found that one brick was hurled during a scuffle between two people.
“On 26/06/22 at 7.43 p.m. a PCR call regarding stone pelting at G block Jahangirpuri was received at PS Jahangirpuri. Police immediately reached the spot,” said police.

“During the inquiry, it was found that a small quarrel broke out between Krishna, Aman, and his two other friends. When Krishna tried to run away, Aman threw one stone at him,” police added.

Krishna was involved in an attempt to murder case in which Aman’s cousin Sagar was injured.

According to Police, a case under 160 IPC has been registered against Aman.

Further preventive action has been against both parties has also been taken by arresting them under 107/151 of CRPC.

There was no stone pelting, no one was injured and no communal angle was involved, stated police. (ANI)

Ahead of the meeting of top office-bearers of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Monday at the party’s head office in Chennai on Monday, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam has said that the meeting is a violation of the party by-law.

Pannerselvam or OPS as he is known, added that meetings could be convened only with the approval of both coordinator and co-coordinator.
This comes amid the battle for single leadership in the AIADMK between former Tamil Nadu chief minister and party co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and his former deputy CM and coordinator O Panneersevelam (OPS).

In a statement, OPS, who is the treasurer of the party said that since as a coordinator of the AIADMK he had not given any approval to the meeting and in such a case if the meeting is convened, it will be in violation of the rule.

“The meeting of headquarters functionaries was convened in contravention of party bylaw, adding that only the coordinator and co-coordinator are authorized to convene any party meeting. Under the AIADMK Law, Rule 20A (v) – the overall management responsibilities of the party are vested in the Co-ordinator and Co-Coordinator. Accordingly, any meeting must be convened with the consent of both parties. However, without the consent and signature of both parties, a notice has been issued in the name of the ‘headquarters functionaries meeting “against the rules and regulations of the party,” Panneerselvam said in a statement.

“As the coordinator of the AIADMK, I did not give any approval to the above meeting. In such a case, the said meeting convened in violation of the rule is contrary to party law and rules. I would like to inform all the party workers that if any decision is taken at the above meeting convened outside the party legal framework it will not in any way restrict the party who are under the administration of the party coordinator and the party co-coordinator,” he added.

At the party’s general council meeting on June 23, Tamil Magan Hussain was elected as the AIADMK Presidium Chairman. At the meeting all 23 resolutions put forward were rejected and it was decided to hold the next general council meeting of AIADMK on July 11, 2022, at 9.15 am.

Notably, till 2016, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was the sole leader of the AIADMK. When Jayalalithaa passed away in 2016, the party decided to appoint OPS to the Chief Minister’s chair.

However, in February 2017, AIADMK suffered a crushing defeat in the state elections and Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s close aide, decided to take over the leadership. Subsequently, OPS was replaced as the chief minister by EPS. This caused a lot of turmoil in the AIADMK.

As time passed by, OPS became the coordinator of AIADMK with EPS becoming the co-coordinator. AIADMK was being run as a party with dual leadership. But now, the call for a unitary leadership has intensified and all eyes are on the crucial general council meeting on July 11. (ANI)

The leaders of the Group of Seven on Sunday (local time) mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin over his shirtless, bare-chested horse-riding picture.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau could be heard on a video joking about their impending photoshoot, reported The Hill.
“Jackets on? Jackets off? Shall we take our clothes off?” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked other leaders sitting around a table. “We all have to show that we’re tougher than Putin.”

“We’re going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display,” Trudeau quipped, referencing a widely shared photo of Putin.

“There you go! There you go! We’ve got to show them our pecs!” Johnson responded.

Putin has often appeared shirtless in images disseminated by the Kremlin. Putin’s predilection for going shirtless doing outdoor activities is part of his carefully crafted strongman image. The Russian president is also an accomplished Taekwondo practitioner, reported The Hill.

The G7 leaders, Johnson and Trudeau joked about Putin during the first day of the three-day G7 summit in the Bavarian Alps, reported The Hill.

Russia was kicked out of what was previously called the G8 in 2014 following its initial invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

The current G7 nations include the US, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden announced that the group will impose new import bans on Russian gold as a punishment for Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, reported The Hill.

US said that the G7 nations will ban the import of Russian gold with the aim of tightening sanctions screws on Moscow.

As the leaders of the world’s wealthiest nations gathered in the Bavarian Alps on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, President Joe Biden said, “Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia.”

Earlier as well, Biden tweeted, “The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia.”

Notably, these measures were initially flagged by the United Kingdom. However, a senior US administration representative who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the G7 would make an official announcement on the gold import ban on Tuesday.

A White House readout of Biden’s meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated Ukraine was a main topic of conversation.

“The leaders underlined their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their continued provision of military, economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to help Ukraine defend its democracy against Russian aggression,” the White House readout said.

“The leaders also discussed efforts to alleviate the impacts of Russia’s war in Ukraine on global food and energy security,” added the release. (ANI)

Three days ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, the Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead a Pakistani intruder near the international border in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning.

In a statement, BSF informed that at about 12.10 am alert BSF troops noticed suspicious movement across the fence in the general area of BOP Baquarpur.
“Our domination party in night noticed a person coming from Pakistan side aggressively towards the fence with an intention to cross the fence. BSF party challenged him to stop but he paid no attention to it and continued his movement towards the fence” the statement reads.

It further reads that left with no option, BSF troops fired three rounds on the intruder due to which he fell down immediately ahead of fencing.

Early morning BSF search party checked the area and found the dead body of a Pakistani intruder very close to the fence.

Nothing recovered from him. The body is being handed over to Police for further disposal, it reads.

Meanwhile, Doda Police along with security forces arrested a terrorist on Monday.

The arrested terrorist has been identified as Fareed Ahmed, a resident of Koti Doda.

The police have recovered one Chinese pistol, two Magazines, 14 live cartridges, and one mobile phone from his possession.

As an increased security measure before the Amarnath yatra, a Police Party of PS Doda laid a Naka on the outskirts of Doda Town and intercepted a young man carrying arms and ammunition, said police.

“The accused was taken into custody and a special team started an investigation into the matter it has come to the fore that Fareed Ahmad received arms and ammunition from one suspect in March and he was tasked to attack police personnel in Doda. However, due to timely and swift action Doda Police foiled this nefarious plot,” added police.

A case FIR under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Doda and an investigation has been taken up.

Initial investigation revealed that Fareed is highly radicalized and used to receive calls from terror commanders based across the border and was motivated to work for terror outfits in Kashmir valley and the Doda region.

Further investigation into the matter is in progress, informed police.

The Yatra will begin from June 30, which was earlier scheduled for June 29. (ANI)

Actor Alia Bhatt, on Monday, announced the news of her pregnancy with a special post on her Instagram account.

In the picture, the ‘Dear Zindagi’ actor can be seen in a hospital with Ranbir Kapoor, wearing a cap. She can be seen smiling and looking at the monitor, during her ultrasound, which is covered with a heart emoticon.
Sharing this post, the ‘Kapoor and Sons’ actor captioned, “Our baby ….. Coming soon” followed by a heart and sparks emoji.

Along with this, she shared another post of a lion family, where the lioness can be seen nudging the lion and the cub is looking at them, indicating that the couple’s little cub is on its way.

Soon after Alia shared the post, fans swamped the comment section with their wishes and reactions, as fans weren’t expecting this news from the couple so soon. Many big Bollywood celebrities also poured wishes to them.

“Oh my my Congratulationsssss” Actor Rakul Preet Singh commented on the post.

Alia’s mother Soni Razdan commented, “Congratulations Mama and Papa lion”.

Karan Johar commented, “Heart is bursting”, followed by three heart emoticons.

The ‘Brahmastra’ couple tied their knot on April 14, 2022, after dating for many years at Ranbir’s Mumbai residence in an intimate ceremony.

Just after two months of their marriage, the couple have treated their fans with such a big surprise.

Meanwhile, on the work front, the ‘Highway’ actor was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ and will be next seen in Ayan Mukerji’s ‘Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva’ along with Ranbir Kapoor.

The ‘Rockstar’ actor on the other hand, will be next seen in ‘Shamshera’ with Vaani Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. The film is all set to hit the theatres on July 22, 2022. (ANI)

Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra triggered by a rebellion by a large section of Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently camping in Assam, Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde has approached the Supreme Court against the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker against rebel MLAs.

The plea also challenges the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena’s legislative leader in the House in place of Shinde.

The petitioner, Shinde has sought to issue direction to Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs and also not to take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of the Deputy Speaker is decided.

The petition also sought direction to hold and declare that the letter/order dated June 21 passed by the Respondent Deputy Speaker accepting the appointment of Respondent Ajay Choudhary, as Leader of Shiv Sena Legislature Party is illegal and unconstitutional.

It also sought an appropriate direction to stay the effect and operation of the letter/order dated June 21 passed by the Deputy Speaker recognising the appointment of Respondent, Ajay Choudhary as Leader of Shiv Sena Legislature Party.

The plea also sought direction from concerned authorities to provide security to the family of the Petitioner and all his supporters within the Shiv Sena Legislature Party (SSLP).

In the petition, Shinde termed the action against him and others as arbitrary and illegal exercise of provisions of Schedule X of the Constitution of India read with Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 1986 (MLA Defection Rules) and said that it is completely violative of Article 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India as well as the illegal and unconstitutional action of the Deputy Speaker insofar as recognizing Ajay Choudhury as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party (SSLP) despite the said request being admittedly made by a minority faction of the SSLP.

The petitioner also challenged the disqualification proceedings initiated against him at the instance of Respondent Sunil Prabhu and said that he had no authority to issue any whip having been removed as the Chief Whip of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party and the consequent issuance of summons dated June 25 issued by the Deputy Speaker without verifying the matter.

The Deputy Speaker, who is in charge of the House in the absence of the Speaker and has issued the notice dated June 25, 2022, in the disqualification petition against the petitioner.

Shinde said he is aggrieved by the notice/summon dated July 25, 2022, as the same is grossly illegal, unconstitutional and in utter disregard of the judgment of the top court.

The petition also sought an interim stay on the operation of the notice dated June 25, 2022, issued to the petitioner by the Deputy Speaker.

“Respondent Sunil Prabhu, who is a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Dindoshi constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, has filed the plea before the Deputy Speaker under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the Petitioners Shinde under Para-2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India. He is also the illegally appointed Chief Whip of the party,” read the plea.

Shinde, who a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency of Thane, said that the present petition has been necessitated in view of the complete breakdown of the government machinery and the ongoing political instability in the state of Maharashtra where constant threats are being given to the members of the SSLP as well.

“It is submitted that the Respondent No. 5 (Prabhu) has filed malicious and prime facie not maintainable, Petition under Schedule X read with Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the Petitioners under Para-2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India despite the fact that the Petitioner enjoys 2/3rd support of the members of SSPL.

Further, Respondent number 5 has already been removed as the Chief Whip vide a resolution dated June 21, 2022, passed by a majority of the members of SSPL (as well as a subsequent affirmation by way of affidavits), ” read the plea.

“Pertinently, on 21st of June, 2022, the majority members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party held a meeting and passed a resolution appointing Mr. Bharat Gogavale as the Chief Whip of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party and also reaffirmed the Petitioner herein as the ‘Gatneta’/Leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party,” the petition said.

The Petitioner submitted that the whip contemplated under Paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule is for a vote on the floor of the House and no whip could have been issued for a meeting admittedly held outside the House. He also said that a meeting of the party no concerned with business or vote on the Floor of the House cannot be converted into a weapon to disqualify duly elected members under the garb of the Tenth Schedule.

One more petition has been filed by Bharat Gogawale and other rebel MLAs who also claimed that they are aggrieved by summons dated June 25, 2022, initiating disqualification proceedings as the same are grossly illegal and unconstitutional.

Gogawale, in his petition, said that the petitioners along with other members of the Shiv Sena Party of the MVA government sensed that the principles of the Shiv Sena, which is a Hindu Marathi Regional Political Party is being compromised due to an unruly coalition of political parties in which MLAs of Shiv Sena were suffering the most.

“During the time period of the last two and half years, the party and its leadership have compromised party principles with different ideologies that of INC and NCP. The ideology of Late Balasaheb Thackray was to give a clean and honest government to the people of Maharashtra, without compromising on the principle of national interest, the rebel MLAs said.

Meanwhile, two MLAs, on June 26, called for the removal of the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker, who could be the key decision-maker about the disqualification of the rebel MLAs. Mahesh Baldi and Vinod Agarwal, both independent MLAs and said to be close to the BJP, have moved for the removal of Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, who is from Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Independent MLA Mahesh Baldi from Uran assembly constituency reached Vidhan Bhavan today and submitted a letter to the office Deputy speaker saying that he cannot disqualify the 12 MLAs.

In his letter, he has cited several judgements of the Supreme Court. “The entire Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government doesn’t have the majority and they can’t disqualify any MLA. I am against Congress and NCP and if the MLAs are disqualified, we will also go to the Court,” he said.

Notably, the Maharashtra assembly doesn’t have a Speaker since February 2021.

Also, the Deputy Speaker also approved the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the ruling party, Shiv Sena, in the assembly in place of Eknath Shinde. Eknath Shinde has called the appointment illegal as Chaudhary’s name was proposed by the “minority faction” as he represents the “real Sena”.

Shinde, who has been replaced by Ajay Chaudhary as Shiv Sena’s legislature party leader on Friday, is currently camping with over 40 rebel MLAs in Guwahati. (ANI)

Opposition leaders will hold a meeting on Monday in Parliament annexe for Presidential elections, sources said.

It may be noted that the Opposition’s joint candidate Yashwant Sinha is scheduled to file his nomination for the presidential election tomorrow.
“Opposition leaders to hold a meeting at 11:30 am tomorrow, June 27, in Parliament annexe building for the Presidential elections,” sources said.

The Presidential elections will take place on July 18 and the counting of votes will take place on July 21.

Pointing out that India is currently going through extremely difficult times, Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha promises to raise his voice for farmers, workers, unemployed youth, women and all marginalised sections of society if he wins the election.

In a letter to Opposition parties on Friday, Sinha thanked them for choosing him unanimously as their common presidential candidate and assured them that he will conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Constitution.

“I am overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude towards you and leaders of all the Opposition parties for choosing me unanimously as your common candidate to contest the Presidential Election, to be held on July 18, 2022. I thank you for the trust and confidence they have reposed in me. I assure you — and the People of India — that, if elected, I shall conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Indian Constitution. In particular, as the Custodian of the Constitution, I shall not allow the light of democracy and secularism to be dimmed by the executive,” Sinha said in a letter.

He said that he will do his utmost to ensure that the majesty of the Indian Parliament remains safe from attacks by the forces of authoritarianism.

“I shall not allow the independence and integrity of democratic institutions to be weaponised against political opponents, as is happening now. I shall do my utmost to ensure that the majesty of the Indian Parliament remains safe from attacks by the forces of authoritarianism. I shall not allow the ongoing assaults on the Federal Structure of the Constitution, whereby the government is attempting to rob the state governments of their legitimate rights and powers,” he said.

Sinha on Friday reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking their support for the July 18 elections. Sinha was earlier with the BJP but he left the party in 2018. Sinha also reached out to veteran BJP leader LK Advani.

From the opposition, Sinha also dialled Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for the support of his party – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is reportedly leaning towards NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu who comes from the Santhal tribal community.

Earlier, he shared a letter to the leaders of the Opposition thanking them for choosing him as their common candidate for the presidential elections. “I assure you – and the people of India – that, if elected, I shall conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Indian Constitution,” he said.

Two days ago, the Centre has provided the Opposition’s presidential candidate, Yashwant Sinha, with ‘Z’ category armed security cover of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The former Union Minister was announced as the Opposition’s presidential candidate on June 21.

After Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, and Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, refused to contest the elections, Sinha’s name suddenly came into the limelight. (ANI)

Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that on May 20, CM Uddhav Thackeray had asked Eknath Shinde to become CM if he wanted to, but at that time he did drama and now just a month later, he rebelled.

Aditya Thackeray said this at the Yuva Sena national executive meeting.

“But they (Shinde faction) aren’t capable of doing so, this isn’t rebellion, this is separatism. They took undue advantage of CM Uddhav Thackeray’s ill-health to do all this,” he said.

While terming rebel MLAs as “traitors”, Thackeray said Maharashtra will never forgive those who have betrayed Shiv Sena.

“Shiv Sena’s doors are open for those who want to leave and those who want to return to the party. Those rebel MLAs who are traitors will not be taken back into the party,” he said.

Attacking the group of MLAs who are currently in Guwahati hotel, Aaditya Thackeray said it is good that some dirt has gone away from the party.

He challenged rebel MLAs and asked them to resign and fight the election.

“This is happening for the first time in the state that the ruling party MLAs left the party to sit in the opposition. People are telling their numbers but I want to say that we have the figures. I challenge them to resign and contest the elections. The truth will come out,” Shiv Sena’s leader said.

The political turbulence in Maharashtra was triggered by the faction war in Shiv Sena after Minister Eknath Shinde flew to Surat with some MLAs and then to Guwahati where he claimed of having the support of 38 MLAs of the 55 Shiv Sena legislators, which is more than two-thirds of the party’s strength in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

It means that they can either leave and form another political party or merge with another without being disqualified from the state assembly.

According to sources, Maharashtra deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal has sent notices to the 16 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs. The MLAs have to be present in Mumbai on Monday for the hearing of disqualification.

Notably, Zirwal has earlier approved the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader, replacing Shinde, the state cabinet minister who rebelled against the Shiv Sena leadership.

Zirwal also turned down the Shinde camp’s suggestion to appoint rebel Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogawale as the chief whip of the legislature party in place of Sunil Prabhu.

Interestingly, the Shinde faction named their group as ‘Shiv Sena Balasaheb’.

The naming of the group after the name of the Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray attracted sharp reactions from the Uddhav faction as the Chief Minister said that those who left the party should not seek votes in the name of the party founder.

Meanwhile on Sunday, supporters of rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde blackened posters of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Thane on Sunday.

On the other hand, Shiv Sena workers held ‘joote maro andolan’ against rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in Pune, Maharashtra. (ANI)