'Uddhav Thackeray loyalists are in touch': Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde hints at fresh defections within Shiv Sena

Mumbai: As the political upheaval within the Shiv Sena continues, newly appointed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has claimed that Uddhav Thackeray loyalists are now in touch with his faction. The development comes less than a day after Union minister Raosaheb Danve had claimed that 12 MPs of the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena are in touch with the Shinde faction and "on the verge" of defecting.

The Thackeray camp presently has the support of several MPs as well as 15 MLAs.

"Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are both here. Many workers, party leaders, people's representatives are in touch. The deputy CM handled the government very well during his tenure as CM. As a result, many people have faith in the government and are in touch with us," Shinde asserted in Marathi (roughly translated) today.

The Shiv Sena had seen a revolt last month leading to the collapse of the tri-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government and the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister. Eknath Shinde, who led the 40 MLA rebellion, took oath as Chief Minister on June 30 with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.

As the countdown for the upcoming Presidential elections starts, there are also indications that the party may back NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu. While party President Uddhav Thackeray will announce his decision in a day or so, Shiv Sena MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut had dropped broad hints today during an interaction with the media.

The development comes after Sena MPs attended a Mumbai meeting called by Thackeray on the upcoming polls and urged the party to support Murmu. Party MP Gajanan Kirtikar said 16 of 18 party MPs were present in the meeting. "She is an NDA candidate but Draupadi Murmu belongs to the tribal community and is a woman. We should give her our support - this was the demand by all MPs (of the party). Uddhav ji told us that he will tell us his decision in a day or two," he said.