Month after revolt by MLAs, 12 Shiv Sena MPs join CM Eknath Shinde
Mumbai/New Delhi, July 19: Exactly a month after a rebellion among Shiv Sena MLAs on June 20, 12 party MPs on Tuesday expressed support to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's group, dealing another massive blow to party president Uddhav Thackeray.
After offering allegiance to Shinde, the group of 12 Shiv Sena MPs called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and are understood to have submitted a letter with various demands, this afternoon.
One of the MPs, Hemant Godse told mediapersons that they have urged the Speaker to recognise them as a group and allot the Shiv Sena office in Parliament House to them.
They also requested the Speaker to approve the name of MP Bhavana Gawali as the new Chief Whip in Lok Sabha and MP Rahul Shewale as the party leader in place of current Shiv Sena Party leader and MP Vinayak Raut -- who is still with Thackeray.
Among the MPs who are said to be with the Shinde camp include -- Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Rahul Shewale, Bhavana Gawali, Hemant Godse, Sadashiv Lokhande, Hemant Patil, Sanjay Mandlik, Dhairyasheel Mane, Shrirang Barne, Krupal Tumane and Prataprao Jadhav.
Shinde will address the media soon along with the MPs to announce the developments and on his other engagements in New Delhi.