New Delhi: Maharashtra minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has gone incommunicado, a party leader said on Tuesday, in a setback after the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) lost one of six seats in the state legislative council polls. , The development could knock the MVA, including Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, as some Shiv Sena MLAs are believed to be in touch with Shinde. However, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that Shiv Sena is a party of loyalists and like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, BJP’s efforts to topple the MVA government will not succeed.
he also said Shinde was a trusted Shiv SainikAnd that the ‘missing’ MLAs will come back after the party is able to reach them.
Earlier in the day, a Shiv Sena leader said that Shinde, who wields influence in some satellite cities of Mumbai, probably along with some MLAs in Gujarat. The leader, however, did not reveal the number and details of the MLAs who could be with Shinde.
“He (Shinde) was at the Shiv Sena office in the assembly complex on Monday when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was present there. But, no one knows about him after that. He was not present (for the MLC polls) during the counting of votes.” he said.
According to sources, Shinde was camping with some Shiv Sena MLAs at a hotel in Surat city of Gujarat.
Meanwhile, Raut said the “BJP’s Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan pattern” to topple the MVA government will not succeed.
“Once we reach the missing MLAs, they will come back. Shinde is a reliable Shiv Sainik. Shiv Sena is a party of loyalists, not those who are greedy for power and positions,” he said.
Raut said if Shinde had any misunderstanding with the chief minister, it could be cleared.
“I have spoken to (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar and other MVA leaders,” Raut said.
There was normal activity outside Shinde’s bungalow in neighboring Thane city and efforts to reach his son failed.
The opposition BJP on Monday won all five seats to 10 in the state legislative council election, while Congress candidate and Dalit leader Chandrakant Handor lost, in another blow to the MVA after the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this month. . Shiv Sena and NCP won two candidates each, while Congress managed to get just one seat. Ten were to grab the council seats and 11 candidates were in the fray, which came days after the Rajya Sabha polls, in which the BJP suffered a humiliating defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling alliance.