MVA crisis: Centre grants VIP security to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs

15 rebel MLAs granted Y-plus security cover of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Sources said the list does not include rebel minister Eknath Shinde

Shiv Sena MLAs Deepak Kesarkar and Sada Sarvankar seen in Guwahati with rebel camp. (Photo: ANI)

Even as political turmoil unfolds in Maharashtra with nearly 40 Shiv Sena MLAs rebelling against the party and staying put at a hotel in Guwahati, the union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted central security cover to 15 rebel MLAs.

Sources said the list of 15 MLAs does not include rebel minister Eknath Shinde. Among those included are Ramesh Bornare, Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane, Prakash Surve and 10 others. The MLAs have been granted Y-plus security cover of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the elected representatives will be protected both, when mobile, and at home.

“The decision has been taken after a threat assessment by the Intelligence Bureau and only those MLAs who have a genuine threat have been provided protection,” a home ministry official said.

The move comes following reports of attacks on residences of rebel MLAs in Maharashtra by alleged workers of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and its supporters. On Friday, Sena workers had allegedly vandalised Kudalkar’s office in Mumbai. On Saturday, the Pune office of rebel MLA Tanaji Sawant was vandalised with protesters smearing the word ‘gaddar’ (traitor) on its walls.

Notably, on Saturday, disqualification notices were served on 16 rebel MLAs, who the Shiv Sena claimed did not attend a party meeting convened by Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena chief Uddhav earlier this week. The MLAs have been given time until Monday to respond, failing which action would reportedly be initiated against them. The rebel camp, which is seeking legal opinion, may approach the courts, even the Supreme Court.

On Saturday, Uddhav chaired a meeting of the party national executive which authorised him to take all decisions related to the party. Six resolutions were passed, including the decision not to allow anyone other than the Shiv Sena to use the name of Bal Thackeray, and to take strict action against the rebel MLAs.

Of the 288 members in the Sena national executive, 38 rebel MLAs, senior leader Ramdas Kadam and MP Shrikant Shinde were not present at the meeting chaired by Uddhav. The national executive includes all MPs, MLAs, district chiefs and senior leaders.

Story continues below this ad

Earlier in the day, Shinde, in a Twitter post, claimed that protection of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs had been withdrawn on the orders of the chief minister and the state home minister. This, he said, was how the NCP and Congress had been mounting pressure on the Sena MLAs. State Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, however, called Shinde’s claim “mischievous” and “false”.

Shinde said “if any harm were to come to our family members, then the Chief Minister and the leaders of MVA government like Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr Sanjay Raut, Mr Aaditya Thackeray will be responsible”.

In an earlier video released on social media on Friday, Shinde had praised the BJP. “We will be together in every situation. We will face everything with full unity. We will end up victorious in the end,” Shinde had said.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram