Will Respond To Uddhav Thackeray's Letter On Eknath Shinde, Says Rebel MLA

Uddhav Thackeray in a letter issued on June 30, removed Eknath Shinde from the post of 'Shiv Sena leader', accusing him of indulging in "anti-party activities".

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's letter removing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from the post of 'Shiv Sena leader' would be challenged before an appropriate forum, said MLA Deepak Kesarkar, spokesperson of the rebel Sena group, on Saturday.

Mr Thackeray, in a letter dated June 30, removed Mr Shinde from the post of 'Shiv Sena leader', accusing him of indulging in "anti-party activities". Mr Shinde had taken oath as the state chief minister on the same day. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as his deputy.

Mr Thackeray stepped down as the chief minister on June 29, over a week after Shinde launched a rebellion against the party. Majority of MLAs sided with him, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Thackeray.

Talking to reporters in Goa, where the rebel MLAs are currently camping, about Thackeray's letter, Mr Kesarkar said Shinde has been elected as the party's group leader in the House by majority of Sena MLAs.