'Let them have punya of bringing down Shiv Sena chief's son': Uddhav Thackeray resigns as CM, lashes out at rebel MLAs

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today resigned as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, hitting out at the rebel party leaders in no uncertain terms. The announcement (made via a Facebook live) came mere minutes after the Supreme Court refused to stay Maharashtra Governor's direction to the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi government to take a floor test in the Assembly on Thursday. Thackeray also thanked Sharad Pawar and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and highlighted the various initiatives undertaken during his tenure.

"I had come (to power) in an unexpected manner and I am going out in a similar fashion. I am not going away forever, I will be here, and I will once again sit in Shiv Sena Bhawan. I will gather all my people. I am resigning as the CM and as an MLC," he confirmed.

Earlier this month a rebel faction led by state minister Eknath Shinde had turned against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, shifting first to Surat and then to Guwahati and finally to Goa. Over the past few days the rebel ranks have continued to increase, with Shinde insisting that he now has the support of around 50 MLAs. These legislators have been urging the Sena leadership to snap ties with the NCP and Congress that share power with their party in the MVA government.

"Congress leader Ashok Chavan told me that if the rebels want, Congress would get out of the government and extend outside support. Those who were expected to ditch me, stood by me while my own left me...I thank Shiv Sainiks for standing by me. Those who grew politically because of Shiv Sena were disgruntled, while those who did not get anything were loyal," he said.

"Let the rebels who grew politically because of Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thackeray have the punya (credit or virtue) of bringing down the son of the Shiv Sena chief. I don't want to participate tomorrow," Thackeray said today, referring to the upcoming floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

"Whatever your differences are...why are you sitting in Surat and Guwahati? What were your problems? Instead of going to Surat and Guwahati, you could have come to me directly and expressed your views...Many Shiv Sainiks were made big by Shiv Sena chiefs who forgot what they made big. Give everything you can. Many people come and support Matoshri. The Shiv Sena has started with the support of the common people along with those who are heartbroken and those who have not received anything," he added.