Mumbai: Supriya Sule -- daughter of veteran politician Sharad Pawar -- today said there has to be a discussion with the Shiv Sena rebel camp which has precipitated the massive political crisis in Maharashtra. Mr Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party is part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra and while he and his party leaders have repeatedly underscored their support to Mr Thackeray, there have been questions regarding the party's role in the crisis.
Many of the rebel Las have been disenchanted with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the plum portfolios going to alliance partner NCP and the Congress. Rebel chief Eknath Shinde has alleged that the partnership has been a marriage of convenience and Sena's ideological affinity is with the BJP, not the two parties have battled for decades.
"I am not an astrologer and I cannot talk of numbers... But this is a democracy and there should be discussion. Whatever their demands should be resolved through discussion," Supriya Sule told reporters in Mumbai today.
She added that the Chief Minister has been extremely conciliatory and urged the rebels to return to Maharashtra to find a solution constitutionally.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has urged the rebel MLAs to return to Mumbai and come and meet him to resolve the issues then have raised.
The Sena has claimed that have been in discussion with 17 MLAs who are not in favour of rebel chief Eknath Shinde's plans to ally with the BJP and rule Maharashtra.
"Many of you are in touch with us... and you are Shiv Sainiks at heart. Let's talk, we'll find a way," Mr Thackeray said in an open letter to the rebels who are staying at a luxury hotel in Guwahati.
Mr Shinde said today that he and the other MLAs will return to Mumbai soon and that he will speak to the Governor. Maharashtra is headed towards a floor test where the MVA government is likely to be reduced to a minority if all rebels vote against the government.
The BJP's Devendra Fadnavis – the former Chief Minister of Maharashra -- is in Delhi, where he met BJP chief JP Nadda for what is seen as a strategy session for the road ahead.
The Sena has blamed the BJP for the crisis and while the BJP has emphatically denied any role in the rebellion it has now started making moves in preparation of forming a government with the help of the rebels.