<span style="color: #222222;">Atleast 12 MPs of Shiv Sena from Maharashtra have extended their support to the Eknath Shinde-led faction. This comes almost a month after Shiv Sena MLAs ignited a rebellion within the party, leading to the fall of MVA government and the formation of a BJP-Shiv Sena alliance led by Eknath Shinde. These 12 MPs include Dr. Shrikant Shinde, who is the Chief Minister's son,   Rahul Shewale, Krupal Tumane, Bhavana Gawali, Hemant Patil, Hemant Godse, Rajendra Gavit, Shrirang Barne, Sadashiv Lokhande, Sanjay Mandlik, Dhairyasheel Mane and Prataprao Jadhav.<br />''<br />''Addressing a press conference in New Delhi in the presence of these 12 MPs, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said these MPs are simply following the wishes of lakhs of citizens of their constituencies. Reiterating that all these MPs belong to the Shiv Sena party, Mr. Shinde said these MPs wanted to change their parliamentary group leader as they were not happy with the working of Mr. Vinayak Raut. Accordingly, a letter signed by 12 MPs has been submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, recommending the appointment of Mr. Rahul Shewale as the group leader of Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party. The Chief Minister further said that Ms. Bhavana Gawli continues to remain the party chief whip.<br />''<br />''It may be recalled that Shiv Sena had earlier written to the Speaker, saying that Mr. Rajan Vichare has been appointed as the chief whip in place of Ms. Gawli. Speaking to reporters at the press conference, Mr. Rahul Shewale said that the speaker has informed them that Ms. Gawli continues to remain the chief whip.<br />''<br />''Rejecting that the MPs were forced to join the Shinde faction, Mr. Shewale said they had always been of the opinion that Shiv Sena should continue to remain a part of the BJP-led NDA alliance. He said that even though Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant has resigned from the union cabinet after a tussle between the Shiv Sena and BJP post the state elections in 2019, the party has not officially withdrawn its support to the NDA. </span>