Maharashtra News: CM Eknath Shinde & Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis jointly address media

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, while addressing the state assembly, announced on Monday that the government will soon reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel. He also took to Twitter to announce the same as he wrote, "A decision to reduce VAT on fuel will be taken soon to provide relief to the people of the state".

The announcement comes as the prices of fuel and diesel prices stand at Rs111.35 and Rs97.28 per litre, respectively in Maharashtra's capital, Mumbai. 

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Shiv Sena chief whip Bharat Gogawale reacted on Aaditya Thackeray's statement and said, "We have given notices to disqualify all the MLAs who defied our whip; have not given his (Aaditya Thackeray's) name due to our respect for Balasaheb Thackeray

"This govt came into power by winning the trust vote with a thumping majority of 164-99 margin, due to the blessings of Balasaheb Thackeray. All of our Shiv Sena MLAs are here at the Balasaheb Thackeray memorial for the same," said Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, in Mumbai's Shivaji park.

On Monday, CM Eknath Shinde said, "Our govt will work on the Balasaheb teachings. I and Devendra Fadnavis will work for upliftment and progress of all sections of Maharasthra."

Responding to the Amravati murder case, CM Shinde said, "the accused have been arrested. Now the case is being taken over by NIA."

Responding to NCP chief Sharad Pawar's claim that mid-term polls are likely in Maharashtra as the government led by rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde may fall in the next six months, CM Shinde said, "Sharad Pawar is a national leader, but you know that whatever Sharad Pawar says, exactly the opposite happens."

In the press briefing, CM Shinde added, "Metro is needed in Mumbai. Many women are unable to travel by local train, therefore, a metro journey is more pleasant. We will try our best to take this Maharashtra ahead. We will make the decision about cutting the fuel taxes very soon. Modi Ji has said that the central govt is backing this state for development. When there is coordination between state & central govt, the state progresses further."

"We have to face many difficulties. Today also they (the Uddhav faction) approached the court. You all know Hindutva of Balasaheb.  We were suffocating in MVA, but people are now finally breathing freely. We are the original Shiv Sena Party. We have 40 MLAs now. Very soon the number will increase. You will see. Let us get out of the house, then the shiv sena will be with us too," the Maharashtra CM asserted. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde briefs media after the assembly session, and said, "Our BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is ruling Maharashtra. Actually, it should have been made earlier. Devendra Ji has made a historic decision and we have the blessings of PM Modi, Amit Shah. It is a govt expected by the people. It is a new beginning. It is a good beginning. I was a minister in the earlier govt too.Devendra ji had taken good initiative."

While addressing the media after the Maharashtra Assembly session, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "Today in Vidhan Sabha, CM proposed the confidence motion. We have secured a huge victory with 164 votes in our favour. 
Yesterday, our speaker cast a vote in our favour. Today our speaker was in the chair. But Santosh Bangar has returned back to Shiv Sena. We passed a confidence motion again in favour of the speaker. Yesterday at 12 o clock our speaker was elected, and later after two minutes, the no-confidence motion was moved against the speaker."

"If Bharat Gogawale wants, he can move for the disqualification of the Sena MLAs who disobeyed his whip yesterday. Our session is scheduled for the 18th. But on the 18th there are Presidential polls. Hence it might not be possible to hold the session from that day," he added

Against the backdrop of the Eknath Shinde-led government winning the trust vote in the Maharashtra Assembly, Shiv Sena president and former CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday alleged it was the BJP's ploy to finish his party, and challenged it to hold mid-term elections in the state. 

Addressing a meeting of Sena district presidents at the Shiv Sena Bhawan here, Thackeray said it was an insult of the Constitution to run the Legislative Assembly in an arbitrary manner.

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In his first address in the Maharashtra assembly as the Chief Minister of the state, Eknath Shinde alleged that there were threats to his family over his revolt against his Shiv Sena boss and then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, on Monday. A teary-eyed Shinde remembered his family amid the legislatures and choked up while referring to his children, who he had lost in an accident in 2002.

"While I was working as a Shiv Sena Corporator in Thane, I lost 2 of my children," Shinde said. His children with his wife Lata- Dipesh (aged 11) and daughter Shubhada (aged 7) drowned in water when the boat they were aboard overturned in a lake near their native village in Maharashtra, as per reports. His oldest son is a Shiv Sena MP.

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NCP Ajit Pawar to be Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly. NCP Legislative party leader Jayant Patil proposed and it was approved by the Assembly.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde also said in the assembly that in the coming cabinet meeting, his government will bring a proposal to reduce VAT on fuel.

Exclusive inside images of Uddhav Thackeray's meeting with Shiv Sena district presidents. 

Speaking on his journey as Shiv Sainik, CM Shinde stated, "I joined shakha of Shiv Sena by getting inspired from Balasaheb & Anand Dighe. I become shakha chief despite many people of more age than me. I never had a lust for power. I worked harder, I never looked back. I always remain silent, but when something wrong happens, I don't tolerate it. There were many comments on my father. My father did struggle and brought me here. My father worked hard for me. I gave more time to Shiv Sena & the organisation instead of my family. I lost my two children. Anand Dighe gave me support at that time. I had lost everything at that time. Dighe Saheb supported me, he came to my house many times. Dighe Saheb said to me that you have to wipe other's tears, you have to work for others. Balasaheb & Anand Dighe were like gods to me. I used to sit till 11 night in municipal corporation office, I did lots of hard work."

In a meeting with the district presidents of Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray said, "Stay with me if you want to fight. If you dare, then contest the intermediate elections. Instead of playing such a game, let's go to the court of the public, if we go wrong then people will make us sit at home. If you are wrong people will make you sit at home. What is happening now is based on the fact that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is trying to break the deadlock. Please speak the truth about what happened in Maharashtra when the nation is celebrating Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Arbitrary conduct of the assembly is an insult to the constitution. BJP's move is to eliminate Shiv Sena."
 

In his address, CM Shinde added, "I have no greed for power. Even earlier, I had no greed for power. I have no greed for any post. We took this decision because there were questions about those MLAs' existence. We have a natural alliance with BJP. We had an alliance with BJP in the election. I tried to explain to them to form an alliance with BJP. I told them 5 times to form an alliance with BJP. But we were not successful in that, we got defeated."

After the Eknath Shinde-led government proved its majority in the assembly, the Chief Minister said, "All MLAs are taking the legacy of Balasaheb & Anand Dighe. I don't want to hide anything. All supported me, and support keeps increasing. I received many calls asking where are you going & all the others things. I said I don't know. I am ready to be martyred for Shiv Sena. Everyone did not know where they are going, for much time they are going, or for what purpose they are going, despite this they supported me. I was inspired by the ideology of Balasaheb at the age of 17 yrs."

Questioning the formationof the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray said, "Those who don't follow our whip have to face action. Those MLAs (Eknath Shinde faction) are in bubble. One day they have to meet their constituency people. Yesterday, the speaker election was also illegal. We are ready for election whenever it happens. It is very likely."

The Sewri metropolitan magistrate's court issued a bailable warrant against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. This came after he remained absent during the hearing in the defamation case filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's wife Dr. Medha despite being summoned. 

Congress refuted rumours that it is planning to quit MVA. Speaking to the media, AICC Maharashtra in-charge HK Patil asserted that Congress will continue to back NCP and Congress. Moreover, he attributed the collapse of the MVA government to BJP's 'Operation Lotus'. He also pointed out that Congress not only supported the MVA candidate for the Speaker's election but also voted against the government during the floor test. 

Shiv Sena chief and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray arrived at the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Mumbai. He will meet with party district chiefs. 

Commenting on the formation of the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government, UP CM Yogi Adityanath remarked, "A BJP-led alliance government has been formed in Maharashtra. It will take Maharashtra to new heights of development and good governance in line with PM Modi's vision and rid Maharashtra of corruption and instability. This is an example of the commitment of public representatives to the mandate given by the people. That's why I congratulate the CM and Deputy CM there."

Weighing in on the formation of the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, "This is not BJP or Eknath Shinde's feat. It is the feat of ED, CBI and NIA". According to her, over 50 MLAs have joined the Shinde camp owing to the fear of the central investigative agencies. 

Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of Shiv Sena MLAs belonging to his camp at the Shiv Sena Bhavan. At present, 40 out of 55 Sena MLAs are with the ruling coalition. 

A total of 20 MLAs remained absent during the Maharashtra trust vote. This includes 10 Congress MLAs - Jitesh Antapurkar, Zeeshan Siddique, Praniti Shinde, Ashok Chavan, Vijay Wadettiwar, Dhiraj Deshmukh, Kunal Patil, Raju Awale, Mohanrao Hambarde and Shirish Chaudhari and 7 NCP MLAs- Dattatray Bharane, Baban Shinde, Nilesh Lanke, Dilip Mohite and Anna Bansode, Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik.

Speaking to the media after the Eknath Shinde-led government proved its majority in the Maharashtra Assembly, Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray asserted that action will be taken against those who violated the party whip. He affirmed, "We believe that the Speaker's election that happened yesterday was also illegal. Our whip will remain the same". Responding to whether he agrees with Sharad Pawar's prediction about mid-term polls, Thackeray opined, "There is a big possibility. The people who have betrayed their parent party can act similarly in their current party". 

He elaborated, "People who have run away want to finish Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena can never be finished. They are living in a bubble now. They were in Surat, Guwahati and Goa. I don't know where they will be taken next. We know what is in the minds of the voters. When a building in Kurla collapsed, I went there at 2 am. The local MLA was perhaps partying in Guwahati. When they go back to their constituencies and meet their voters, then they will come to know the sentiments of the voters."

On the floor of the Maharashtra Assembly, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis announced that his government will endorse the renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad as Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv respectively. He stated, "Whatever decisions were taken in the last cabinet, about renaming, we will uphold those decisions as we're of the same view. We'll have to re-affirm those decisions as last cabinet wasn't as per rules as Governor had already asked the government to face floor test". 

In an indication that all is not well within MVA, many Congress MLAs such as Ashok Chavan and Zeeshan Siddiqui did not cast their vote during the trust vote. 

Weighing in on his taking over as Maharashtra Deputy CM, Devendra Fadnavis stressed, "I would have even sat at home had the party told me - the same party that made me a CM. Today I tell you that there will never be a tussle for power in this govt, we'll continue cooperating. People taunt that it's an ED govt. Yes, it's an ED govt-govt of Eknath Devendra". 

Weighing in on his 'Mi Punha Yein' (I will come back) prediction for which he was mocked since the last three years, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis remarked, "I had once said that I'll come back. But when I said that, several people mocked me. I've come back today and brought him (Eknath Shinde) along with me. I won't take revenge on people who mocked me. I'll forgive them, everything isn't taken to heart in politics."

As per sources, Congress is likely to break away from the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra. A development in this regard is expected in the next few days, sources added.

Speaking on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis remarked, "Our CM Eknath Shinde has won the trust vote, I congratulate him. I thank all the MLAs who supported us. Appreciating the political journey of Shinde from a Shiv Sena Shakha head to a CM, he described the latter as a leader who works 24/7. 

In a big embarrassment for the opposition, it received only 99 votes today- 8 less compared to what it secured in the Speaker's election on Sunday. Two SP MLAs- Abu Azmi and Rais Shaikh and one AIMIM MLA abstained from voting.

The newly formed Shinde-Fadnavis government has secured the majority during the trust vote by getting 144 votes until now.

As of now, the Eknath Shinde-led government has secured the support of 110 MLAs and is in the pole position to win the vote of confidence.

PWPI MLA, Shyamsundar Shinde joined the Eknath Shinde group just before the trust vote. So, since yesterday 2 Shiv Sena MLAs have switched sides. 

50 MLAs have voted for the Eknath Shinde-led government during the trust vote until now.

The headcount of the MLAs in favour of the vote of confidence has commenced. The Speaker allowed the opposition's demand for a division of votes. 

As per sources, one more Uddhav camp MLA Santosh Bangar will jump ship to the Eknath Shinde camp. This comes after Bharat Gogawale issued a whip to all Shiv Sena MLAs to back the government during the trust vote. 

In a last-minute bid to avoid embarrassment in the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the Uddhav Thackeray camp moved the Supreme Court once again. It challenged newly-elected Speaker Rahul Narwekar's decision to reinstate Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde as the Shiv Sena Legislative Party leader and approve the appointment of Bharat Gogawale as the Chief Whip in place of Sunil Prabhu. Senior advocate and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned this matter before a vacation bench of the SC comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and JK Maheshwari. 

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued, "The speaker has no jurisdiction to recognise whips. This is changing the status quo of proceedings before this court. The speaker yesterday at the stroke of midnight elected the whip". Refusing to grant urgent relief to the Uddhav camp, Justice Banerjee said, "I don't have the papers in front of me. Let all of this come up together on July 11, 2022". 

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan ahead of the floor test.

"Shiv Sena is a cadre-based party. Lakhs of workers connected to the ground are our strength. MLAs and MPs have never been our strength. Some people left. We will see what is their fate. The party will work and will again get MLAs and MPs elected. The manner in which an attempt was made to divide the party- it has been done because of revenge," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut told ANI.

Speaking to the media ahead of the floor test, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Pravin Darekar said, "We are sure of our victory, we will get a majority". He also dismissed Sharad Pawar's prediction that there will be mid-term polls in Maharashtra. 

In a big development, Sunil Prabhu issued a whip to all Shiv Sena MLAs to remain present for the Assembly session and vote against the government today. This comes even as Speaker Rahul Narwekar reinstated Eknath Shinde as the Sena Legislative Party leader and approved the appointment of Bharat Gogawale as the Chief Whip instead of Prabhu. 

Shiv Sena chief whip Bharat Gogawale has submitted an application to Speaker Rahul Narvekar reiterating that the Shinde camp is the real Shiv Sena. A part of the Eknath Shinde camp, he has sought the disqualification of the 16 MLAs supporting Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. 

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will speak to the media after winning the vote of confidence. Thereafter, he will leave for Thane and meet his workers there before going home. 

Ex-Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of district presidents of his party at the Shiv Sena Bhawan at 1 pm today. 

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that mid-term polls are likely in Maharashtra as the government led by rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde may fall in the next six months. He made the statement while addressing NCP legislators and other leaders of the party on the evening of July 3. "Pawar said that many rebel legislators who are supporting Shinde are not happy with the current arrangement. Once the ministerial portfolios are distributed, their unrest will come out, which will ultimately result in the collapse of the government," an NCP leader said.

As per sources, a key meeting will take place at Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis' 'Sagar' residence at 7 pm today. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Union Minister Piyush Goyal will also be present at the meeting. Sources indicated that the distribution of Cabinet portfolios can be discussed. 

Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant stated, "39 of our MLAs did not obey our whip and didn't follow party order, so we have sought their disqualification from new Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has chosen Ajay Choudhari as the leader of the group." 

The ED has summoned former Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey to appear before it in a money laundering case on July 5. Commenting on this, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya remarked, "We will seek accountability". 

In a big boost for the Eknath Shinde government, BJP's Rahul Narwekar was elected as the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly on July 3. While he polled 164 votes, only 107 MLAs voted in favour of MVA's candidate Rajan Salvi. Thus, Maharashtra became the only state in the country where the presiding officers of the Legislature are in-laws. Narwekar's brother-in-law Ramraje Naik of NCP is the chairperson of the Legislative Council. The legislator from Mumbai's Colaba Assembly constituency has been associated with the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party in the past.

Narwekar, whose brother Makarand is a corporator from Colaba, was a spokesperson of the youth wing of Shiv Sena in his early years. He quit that party and joined NCP in 2014. He had then claimed that the inaccessibility of party top brass prompted him to quit the Sena. Narwekar contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Maval, losing to Shrirang Appa Barne of the Shiv Sena. He joined the BJP before the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls from Colaba. He won the Colaba Assembly seat, defeating Congress' Ashok Jagtap.

A total of 11 MLAs were not present during the Assembly session on July 3 when the Speaker was elected. 5 NCP MLAs- Nilesh Lanke, Dilip Mohite, Dattatray Bharne, Baban Shinde and Anna Bansode were absent due to unknown reasons whereas Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik could not vote as they are in jail. Meanwhile, Congress' Praniti Shinde and AIMIM's Mufti Ismail also skipped the proceedings. 

After a week-long drama, through an official communication, it was informed that the appointment of Ajay Choudhary has been revoked, and Eknath Shinde has been reinstated as the Leader of the Maharashtra Shiv Sena Legislature Party. "This has been done acting on the objection raised by you via a letter dated June 22, 2022," read the letter, issued by the Vidhan Sabha. In the backdrop of the Legislative Council elections, as the MLAs of Shiv Sena went incommunicado, one of the first steps taken by supremo Uddhav Thackeray was to change the Leader of the Maharashtra Shiv Sena Legislative Party.

In a late-night meeting on July 3, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis addressed a meeting of all BJP and Shiv Sena MLAs in Mumbai ahead of the floor test. Senior leaders such as state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Pravin Darekar, Deepak Kesarkar and Bharat Gogawale were present on the occasion.