Eknath Shinde’s reply to Sanjay Raut – ‘Eknath Shinde had to die in the service of Hindutva, then it doesn’t matter’:

Mumbai: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Sunday moved the Supreme Court against the disqualification notice by Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Sitaram Jirwal disqualifying him and 15 other MLAs. His petition will be heard in the top court today. Eknath Shinde later tweeted that he would consider it his destiny, even if he had to die to ‘follow Hindutva’. The Shinde faction, which has been camping at a hotel in Guwahati since June 22, has demanded that the Shiv Sena pull out of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, which also includes the NCP and Congress. But Shiv Sena too refused to give up and took a tough stand against the dissidents by asking them to contest again. Alliance ally NCP and its chief Sharad Pawar have expressed confidence in CM Uddhav Thackeray and said that the party will continue to support him and Shiv Sena as long as there is a need. Meanwhile, hitting back at Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut’s statement, Shinde tweeted, “How can Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena support those who are responsible for killing the culprits of Mumbai bomb blasts, Dawood Ibrahim and innocent people of Mumbai.” There was a direct connection with the people. That’s why we took such a step, it is better to die.’ Earlier, Sanjay Raut, while attacking the Shinde faction, said that these 40 people who have gone to Guwahati, only their body will come here, the soul will not come. Raut said that they are suffering there. When these (rebel MLAs) land here (Mumbai), they will not be alive with their mind, their body will go directly to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for post-mortem. They know what can happen in the fire that has started. Come to Mumbai and show me my challenge.

Shinde faction claims support of more than two-thirds of Shiv Sena MLAs
The Eknath Shinde-led rebel faction has claimed that it has the support of more than two-thirds of Shiv Sena MLAs. Sources said the rebel MLAs, who were served notices, held a meeting on Sunday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati to discuss their options.