Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena today declared that Uddhav Thackeray is not in danger of losing his position as chief minister or his position as the party's senior leader, despite the fact that news from the Northeast says otherwise.
Eknath Shinde, the instigator of a massive uprising against Mr. Thackeray, is hiding out at a five-star hotel in Guwahati. The number of Sena MLAs who have formally or informally joined him over the past 24 hours has surpassed 40. If that is accurate, Mr. Thackeray will be a minority leader in the party that his father, Bal Thackeray, established and oversaw for many years with support from just 15 MLAs.
20 of the rebel MLAs, according to Mr. Raut, a senior member of Mr. Thackeray's team, this morning "are contacting us. You'll find out when they get in Mumbai, and it'll soon be made clear under what pressure these MLAs left us."
It is challenging to keep an accurate tally of the people supporting Mr. Shinde's uprising. A Shiv Sena MLA who was parked next to him has subsequently travelled back to Mumbai and claims that he was abducted and made to take shots. Even if unfounded, the claim brings to mind the outrageous drama that has consumed the Sena this week.
Mr. Thackeray left the Chief Minister's official residence last night, hours after declaring on Facebook that he has no attachment to power. Large luggage were carried out of his house and into waiting automobiles as it was caught on camera. He then drove to his father's multi-story home with his family, including minister son Aaditya. The SUV slowed down so that the hundreds of Sena employees who had gathered along the route could see their leader, making the 20-minute trip last over two hours.