In a major jolt for the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader and state Minister of Urban Development and Public Works, Eknath Shinde has reportedly moved to a hotel in Gujarat's Surat with 24 party MLAs.

The rebel MLAs are reportedly staying in a hotel in Surat and are 'unreachable'. Shinde will likely address the media at 2 pm from Surat.

On Monday, the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) coalition suffered a setback in the state Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested. The Bharatiya Janata Party managed to get its extra candidate elected as MLC, trouncing Congress’ first preference candidate Chandrakant Handore.

The saffron party is said to have got 20 extra votes and is now short of 11 MLAs to oust the Uddhav Thackeray government. This makes 'unreachable' Shinde a worrying factor for Shiv Sena, National Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress.

Before the Rajya Sabha election, the strength of the MVA government was 170 which was reduced to 162 as some MLAs supported the BJP candidate. After the MLC election, the MVA government's strength is further reduced to 151 as 11 MLAs cross-voted in BJP's favour.

"No comments should be made on such things, else what is the point of being unreachable," Union Minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane said.

The Maharashtra Assembly strength is 288 and the current strength is 285 as Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik are in jail and Ramesh Latake had passed away. A party needs 143 MLAs to prove majority in the state Assembly and form the government in the politically crucial state. The BJP has 134 MLAs and is nine short of the majority mark.

Thank you for joining our coverage of the Maharashtra political crisis. We will now wrap the blog. Good night!

Here are the highlights from Maharashtra political crisis:

#The 'rebel' MLAs to be shifted to another location

#Congress leaders on political crisis in state

Congress leader Nitin Raut said it is BJP's pattern to attempt to topple governments that are in opposition-ruled states "...be it using ED, CBI or any means that can be of help.... by hook or by crook...They are in haste to dismantle the government in Maharashtra, but won't succeed," he said.

Maharashtra Congress incharge HK Patil said he is in touch with Congress leaders. "Our Congress MLAs are intact and there is no reason to worry. We are going to have a meeting today... BJP is playing 'Operation Kamal' in all those states wherever there's Opposition," he said.

#Everyone knows why we left BJP and Eknath Shinde is also a witness to that, says Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

"Two of our people went there (Surat) and talks took place with Eknath Shinde. He is our old friend...Everyone knows why we left BJP and Eknath Shinde is also a witness to that," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said. He added that Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak will convey to CM Uddhav Thackeray about the talks they had with Eknath Shinde.

#CM Uddhav Thackeray spoke to Eknath Shinde over phone

#Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis is about to reach Surat now

#State cabinet meeting at 1 pm on Wednesday

Gujarat | Shiv Sena leaders Milind Narvekar and Ravi Pathak leave from Le Meridien hotel in Surat after meeting Shiv Sena leaders who are staying there. pic.twitter.com/NIKlJTuQ8E

— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

#Key meeting begins at Uddhav's residence

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has reached Varsha, the official residence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, where a meeting is now under way on the roiling political crisis in the state following the rebellion by Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde.

#I am with Hindutva: Shinde tells Uddhav emissary

Rebel Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde is reported to have turned down an olive branch extended by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who sent an emissary, Milind Navrekar. Shinde is reported to have told Navrekar that he will not return to the Sena fold, and that he is "with Hindutva".

#Here's how things stand in the Maharashtra assembly right now:

#Congress slams 'power hungry' BJP

The way attempts are being made to topple govt in Maharashtra shows that BJP is power-hungry: Congress's Harish Rawat on brewing political trouble in Maharashtra after Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and some others went unreachable, earlier today pic.twitter.com/vl2RHpZWKh

— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

#MVA Government is rock-solid: Congress

Our govt is rock solid in Maharashtra, all Congress MLAs, and our alliance is firm. As far as Shiv Sena is concerned, their chief Uddhav Thackery will successfully bring a solution...: Congress's Deepender Hooda on Shiv Sena MLAs and Eknath Shinde currently unreachable pic.twitter.com/9OnyL7lSLS

— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

#'Uddhav was inaccessiblle, and it is now showing'

The problem is that most of the experienced people are no more in front of the Shiv Sena, playing a prominent role. And Uddhav Thackeray himself — he handled the COVID situation very well — the complaint has been that he has been inaccessible to most of his MLAs. This is now brewing — the timing is important — after the Rajya Sabha election, where 15 are supposed to have crossvoted yesterday in the MLC elections, 24 have voted for the BJP — three of them I believe were Congress people, there were a large number of independents and about a dozen Sena MLAs. The home ministry is with the NCP in Maharashtra, how has this all happened? It is an evolving situation, but it is a worrying situation for the Sena and the MVA government today, says Neerja Chowdhury, senior journalist and political analyst said.

# 'It's a big shock for everybody'

Independent MLA Naveneet Rana told. CNN News18 that Shinde's rebellion has come as a big shock for everybody.

#Surat hotel housing Shinde, rebel Sena MLAs turns into fortress

In Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat, a luxury hotel has become the focus of all attention as it is currently hosting dissident Shinde and some rebel party MLAs, and the property has been turned into a virtual fortress with nearly 400 policemen guarding. While guests who had arrived earlier are leaving one by one, sources revealed that the hotel has stopped accepting new bookings for an indefinite period.

# "There's a sort of storm that has come up in Maharashtra's politics. If a storm comes, then it'll calm down and will recede as well. In the coming days, the situation will become normal again," says State minister & NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal

# Seven more Shiv Sena MLAs are likely to join Eknath Shinde. Five Congress MLAs unreachable.

# "We know that Eknath Shinde along with some MLAs is in Surat. I don't think that Shiv Sainik will do something against Shiv Sena chief. I am confident, CM Uddhav Thackeray will keep all MLAs unified. All MLAs are in contact with us," says Maharashtra minister & NCP leader Jayant Patil.

# A look at each party's strength in the Maharashtra Assembly

# Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil says, "So far, there has not been any proposal regarding government formation neither from the BJP nor from Eknath Shinde but anything can happen in politics at any time."

# Shiv Sena to carry out protest march against BJP across Maharashtra at 4 pm.

# Eknath Shinde changes his Twitter bio, removes Sena. The new bio says 'Cabinet Minister of Urban Development and PWD (Public Undertakings) MH State | Guardian Minister, Thane & Gadchiroli Dist'.

# Shiv Sena decides to remove Eknath Shinde as its legislative party leader, Sewri MLA Ajay Chaudhary to be the new Shiv Sena legislative party leader, say sources.

# Eknath Shinde says we are staunch Shivsainiks, will never cheat for power

"We are Balasaheb Thackeray’s staunch Shiv Sainiks. Balasaheb has given us the teachings of Hindutva. We have never forgotten the ideas of Balasaheb and the teachings of Anand Dighe for power and never will," tweets Shinde.

आम्ही बाळासाहेबांचे कट्टर शिवसैनिक आहोत... बाळासाहेबांनी आम्हाला हिंदुत्वाची शिकवण दिली आहे.. बाळासाहेबांचे विचार आणि धर्मवीर आनंद दिघे साहेबांची शिकवण यांच्याबाबत आम्ही सत्तेसाठी कधीही प्रतारणा केली नाही आणि करणार नाही

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) June 21, 2022

# Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath is appointed Congress observer in Maharashtra.

# BJP MLAs reach Le Meridien hotel in Surat where rebel Shiv Sena MLAs are camping.

# Uddhav Thackeray offers to resign as the Maharashtra Chief Minister.

# NCP chief Sharad Pawar addresses the media on the political crisis in the state. He says:

- Whatever is happening in Maharashtra, this has happened for the third time since we formed the government.

- We will find a solution to this crisis.

- Rules out alliance with the BJP

- Eknath Shinde has never conveyed to us that he wants to be CM. This is an internal issue of Shiv Sena, whatever they decide we're with them. We don't think there is any need for change in the government.

# Congress is now fearing defection and it has asked all its MLAs to be in Mumbai by the end of the day.

# Shiv Sena MLAs at Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's residence.

# We're minutely observing the turn of events. It's a little premature to say that it'll lead to any changes. It's a handle-with-care situation. We have to see it very keenly. We are observing all situations, says Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil.

# Union Home Minister reaches BJP national president JP Nadda's residence. Devendra Fadnavis reaches Nadda's residence soon.

Pune | BJP workers celebrate party's victory in Maharashtra MLC elections pic.twitter.com/nQsBGSpcsX

— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

# List of Shiv Sena MLAs who are likely to be with Eknath Shinde

Ekanth Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Shamburaje Desai, Prakashrao Abitkar, Mahesh Shinde, Sanjay Rathod, Srinivas Vanga, Sanjay Shirsat, Tanaji Sawant, Balaji Kalyankar, Sandipan Bhumre, Sanjay Raimulkar, Vishwanath Bhoir, Anil Babar, Chimanrao Patil, Mahendra Dalvi, Pradip Jaiswal, Mahendra Thorve, Kishore Patil, Bharat Gogavale, Shantaram More, Sanjay Gaikwad, Shahji Patil, Balaji Kinikar, Ramesh Boranare, Suhas Kaande, Dnyanraj Chougule

# BJP misuses its power, they are taking the Indian democracy towards untruthfulness. I am sure the truth will win. I have called a meeting of all Maharashtra Congress leaders today, says state Congress leader Nana Patole on MLC elections.

# Congress calls an emergency meeting of MLAs in view of the political crisis in the state. Ashok Chavan is present at Balasaheb Thorat's residence.

Maharashtra | Congress leaders meet at party leader Balasaheb Thorat's official residence, Royal Stone bungalow in Mumbai; party leader Ashok Chavan arrives for the meeting pic.twitter.com/bMTTcV3NxU

— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

# Sharad Pawar to meet Uddhav Thackeray at 9:30 pm today. Pawar will return to Mumbai from Delhi today.

# Reports say that Eknath Shinde may form his own party.

# Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjya Raut ruled out any "political earthquake" in the MVA government. "There is no political quake. Shiv Sena will never have a leader who will sell himself. There is conspiracy to take over control on Mumbai. Eknath Shinde still part of party. He is untraceable. I don't think he would betray the party."

# Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnvais reaches Delhi.

# Jayant Patil, Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare expected to reach NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's residence in Delhi.

# Eight more Shiv Sena MLAs are likely to be in contact with the BJP.

# Security heightened outside the residence of Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, in Thane.

Security heightened outside the residence of Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, in Thane.

Shinde is reportedly "unreachable" after suspected cross-voting in MLC elections. CM Uddhav Thackeray has called an urgent meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs today at 12pm pic.twitter.com/AswTItPWJE— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

# Shiv Sena MLAs from Maharashtra's Nanded, Bhiwandi out of reach.

# Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Praful Patel reach Sharad Pawar's residence

First Published:Jun 21, 2022 10:51 AM IST