THANE: After polling for the Maharashtra Legislative Council got over at 4pm on Monday, Eknath Shinde made an unannounced trip to Upwan near the Yeoor hills in Thane with a few party MLAs. This is where they finalised their next step before leaving for Surat, close confidants of Shinde told Manoj Badgeri.
“The leaders were upset after Shinde was sidelined during the crucial Rajya Sabha and the MLC polls. They were fuming over how Congress and NCP were getting the lion’s share of the budget while Sena leaders got a raw deal. Shinde arrived with a few MLAs and held discussions over dinner. They decided their dissent needed to be aired and left for Surat,” said a close acolyte of Shinde who is now in Guwahati.
Another Thane Sena functionary considered close to Shinde hinted the unrest had been simmering for some time. “The dissent is unlikely to be a knee-jerk reaction… It could have burst out earlier but may have been deferred possibly due to the Rajya Sabha and MLC polls,” said the functionary.
Only a select few close Shinde associates from Thane were apprised of his plans at the last minute and asked to accompany him to oversee travel and stay arrangements and ensure the breakaway MLAs were taken good care of.
In Shinde’s home turf Thane, many party workers assembled at his bungalow on the Eastern Express Highway on Wednesday evening to show solidarity with his decision.