Y+ security cover to Shinde faction MLAs, MPs to continue

A home department official said currently MLAs and MPs who joined the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena are covered by Y+ security on the grounds that they could be targeted by members of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena. Soon after the MLAs joined the Shinde faction, their security had been increased to Y+. In the first review conducted after the Shinde government came to power, it was decided to continue with the Y+ security for them, while the security cover of several MVA leaders, including former state home minister Dilip Walse-Patil was trimmed down.

Sources said that in the past, most MLAs had X-category security and now with such a large number of legislators enjoying Y+ cover, several more security personnel have been pressed into service. “With the security of MVA leaders being downgraded, more policemen were made available for providing the additional security to MLAs in the Shinde camp,” an official said.

The official, however, said the changes were based on inputs provided by the State Intelligence Department regarding the MLAs’ threat perception.

Apart from this, the Z+ security cover enjoyed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor B S Koshyari has been retained and so has the Y+ cover provided to MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

Recently, the security cover of as many as 25 legislators linked to the MVA was removed. Those whose security cover was completely taken away include incarcerated NCP leader Nawab Malik, Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar, Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole and Satej Patil; NCP’s Dhananjay Munde, former deputy speaker of the Assembly Narhari Zirwal and Eknath Khadse.