One party, two whips: Uncertainty in Shiv Sena ahead of trust vote
India Today
Two Shiv Sena factions, one led by Uddhav Thackeray and the other led by Eknath Shinde, are likely to issue whips asking MLAs to vote for their Speaker candidates.
Shiv Sena has fielded MLA Rajan Salvi as the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) candidate for the post of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker, election for which will be held on July 3. Shiv Sena is likely to issue a whip to all rebel MLAs to vote for its candidate.
Sena MLC Sachin Ahir said that powers to issue a whip is with the party's chief whip. It's likely that the rebel faction, led by Eknath Shinde who was sworn in as chief minister on Thursday, will be asked to vote for the Sena candidate.
However, the Shinde faction claim that they are the real Shiv Sena and have appointed Bharat Gogavale as their whip. The rebel faction is also likely to issue a whip asking Uddhav faction to vote for BJP candidate.
READ | Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray sacks Eknath Shinde from all party posts
On Friday, first-time BJP legislator Rahul Narvekar had filed his nomination for the post.
Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the 20th chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, capping a day of surprises and hectic political activities, just 24 hours after the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
In a surprise move, Fadnavis announced in the evening that Shinde, who led the rebellion in the Shiv Sena, will be the new chief minister, while he himself will be out of the new government, only to change his stand and become the deputy CM following prodding from his party's central leadership.
