My resignation letter is ready, not afraid of losing power: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, in a virtual address, announced that he is ready to resign from his post if Shiv Sena’s rebel MLAs come forward and tell him to do so.
In an emotional appeal, Thackeray offered to step aside as Shiv Sena's chief if the rebel MLAs come forward and demand so.

"I will resign if even one MLA objects to me as Chief Minister. I am keeping my resignation letter ready. You tell me you want me to resign," Thackeray said.

Eknath Shinde, who has rebelled against Thackeray's leadership, claimed support of 40 MLAs after reaching Guwahati.

The address comes a few hours after the CM concluded a virtual meeting with MLAs this afternoon. There were speculations regarding several MLAs joining the BJP leading to dissolution of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government in the state.

However, Kamal Nath, who was recently appointed as the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) Observer to Maharashtra, issued a clarification saying there is no proposal to dissolve the Maharashtra Assembly.

“I have talked to CM Uddhav Thackeray and he said that as of now there's no proposal to dissolve the Maharashtra Assembly,” ANI quoted Kamal Nath as saying.

Earlier today, a meeting of Congress party was held at the residence of minister and party leader Balasaheb Thorat, amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.

On Tuesday evening, 42 out of the Congress's 44 MLAs in the state were present at the meeting called by AICC secretary H K Patil.

According to the Congress, its senior leader and Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar was abroad on an official trip and is scheduled to reach Mumbai on Wednesday, while MLA Subhash Dhote was also on way to the state capital from Chandrapur.

(With agency inputs)