Maharashtra political crisis: Rebel MLAs try to acclimatise, take to yoga in Guwahati

AURANGABAD: During the long, late-night flight from Vadodara, one rebel MLA thought he would catch up on his sleep on reaching Guwahati. But that was not to be, not immediately at least. Upon landing, he discovered the sun was already rising - it was just 4.30am. He's used to seeing the first light of dawn around 6.15 am back in his hometown, and in Mumbai.Six days on, he has settled into a new routine. "But it still feels odd. Here, the sun sets around 6.15 pm. There, it's 7.30 pm when it's dusk," he told TOI from Guwahati.
Like him, others have adjusted to new waking and sleeping hours, no cellphones, life inside a hotel, and very little interaction with families and people from their respective constituencies. The mood is upbeat as the rebel group celebrated independent MLA from Bhandara Narendra Bhondekar's birthday on Sunday.
With growing uncertainty over when they would return home, they are trying to get used to the new locale and finding ways to keep themselves busy. The MLAs have started going to the gym and morning walks in the hotel's lawn. Some are also said to be starting their day with yoga. "Since entering this hotel, we have not stepped out. The news channels are our window to the outside world," said an MLA.
One MLA told TOI that they had thought the MVA would crumble in less than 48 hours, but things didn't go as planned. "Now, we have been asked to be mentally prepared for a long fight. It will not be limited to floor test, or high court, it will go to the EC and the Supreme Court," he said.