Amid the revolt by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday night vacated his official residence and moved to family home in suburban Bandra.
Thackeray moved out of 'Varsha', his official residence, for Matoshri, the private bungalow of the Thackeray family, amid high drama as the political crisis that has rocked his government after Shinde's revolt two days ago, showed no signs of ebbing.
Party workers raised slogans and showered petals on the CM as he left his official house along with his family members. He reached outside Matoshri at around 10.30 pm. However, it took another 40 minutes for the CM to cover a short distance from outside Matoshri to his residence as party workers had crowded the road.
On the other hand, Thackeray tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, an official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. The 61-year-old CM attended the weekly cabinet meeting virtually.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga filed a complaint against Thackeray for allegedly violating COVID-19 related protocols by meeting his supporters while heading to his personal residence from his official house, police said.
Earlier, during a 'Facebook Live' session in the evening, Thackeray had said he will be leaving 'Varsha' and residing at 'Matoshri'.
Thackeray, who also heads the Shiv Sena, had moved to 'Varsha' after becoming the chief minister in November 2019.
So what next in Maharashtra?
While the confusion related to the political crisis in the state seems no sign of dying down soon, the Guwahati hotel where several rebel Shiv Sena MLAs from Maharashtra led by state minister Eknath Shinde have camped, has turned into fortress. Shinde claims support of 40 rebel MLAs.
Entry of mediapersons into the hotel has been barred, where the Assam police have take over the security from the hotel's private guards.
"Thirty-nine MLAs accompanied me. We are loyal to Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology of 'Hindutva' and we are keen to take it forward," the dissident Shiv Sena leader said, refusing to disclose details of their future course of action.
He, however, categorically said that they would not quit the party. Rather, when asked by reporters why they came to BJP-ruled Assam, pat came Shinde's reply: "It is a nice place."
A BJP leader on condition of anonymity claimed that three more Independent MLAs backing the Shiv Sena arrived here on Wednesday evening.
With the latest developments, the Shiv Sena-led government Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra seems to be stumbling on the brink of a possible collapse.
The Shiv Sena, which heads the MVA, has 55 MLAs, followed by allies Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at 53 and Congress at 44 in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.]
(With IANS inputs)