Maharashtra LIVE: Uddhav suspends Shinde from party; floor test on July 4

Ten days after Eknath Shinde launched a rebellion against him which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday removed Shinde from the post of ‘Shiv Sena leader’

In a letter to Shinde, who was sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister a day earlier, Thackeray accused him of “indulging in anti-party activities”.

Shinde has also “voluntarily” given up the membership of the party, therefore “in exercise of powers vested in me as Shiv Sena party president, I remove you from the post of Shiv Sena leader in the party organisation,” said the letter.

The letter is dated June 30, the day Shinde took oath as chief minister with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.

Thackeray, who headed a coalition government of Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, stepped down as chief minister on June 29 after the Supreme Court refused to stay the floor test ordered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

First big test for Shinde 

The Shinde government will face the crucial floor test on July 4, it has been reported.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on July 11 will hear, along with other pleas, the fresh plea of Uddhav Thackeray camp MLA Sunil Prabhu seeking suspension of dissident Shiv Sena MLAs from the Maharashtra Assembly and restraining them from entering the House or taking part in proceedings till their disqualification is decided.