Eschewing the conciliatory offers made earlier to the rebel Shiv Sena MLA faction led by Minister Eknath Shinde, the Sena on Friday took a hardline against their ‘perfidy’, with MP Sanjay Raut stating that the party’s doors were closed for the rebels. He stressed that the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government stood firm and would complete its remaining tenure of two-and-a-half years.
He said the MVA (of the Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress) would “not accept defeat” following Mr. Shinde’s rebellion.
“They [rebel Sena MLAs] have taken a very wrong step…we [the MVA] will win on the floor of the House [Maharashtra Assembly]. Should this battle be fought on the streets, then we will win that too. Those who want to challenge us, can return to Mumbai… We had given them a chance to turn back, but now I think that time has elapsed,” said Mr. Raut.
