‘No orders issued by CM or HMO to withdraw security of rebel MLAs,’ says state Home Minister

Taking dissident Shiv Sena MLAs head on, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday accused them of betrayal and challenged them to try and wean away common party workers.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil Saturday denied claims made by Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde that the protection of rebel party MLAs has been withdrawn by the Maharashtra Chief Minister and state Home Minister. “There have been on orders issues either by the CM or the Home Ministry to withdraw the security of any MLA. Allegations being levelled to this effect are mischievous and false,” Patil said.

Shiv Sena workers in Pune on Saturday ransacked the office of Sena legislator Tanaji Sawant, who is among the rebel MLAs currently camping in Guwahati, Assam. “Our party worker vandalised Tanaji Sawant’s office. All traitors and rebel MLAs who have troubled our chief Uddhav Thackeray will face this type of action. Their office will also be attacked… No one will be spared,” said Pune Shiv Sena head, Sanjay More.

Meanwhile, the Sena has sent the names of four more rebel MLAs to the Maharashtra Assembly deputy speaker for initiating action of disqualification against them, a senior leader told PTI. The party will also issue notices to 16 MLAs of the rebel faction and ask them to respond by Monday. The four legislators whose names were forwarded to the deputy speaker were Sanjay Raymulkar, Chiman Patil, Ramesh Bornare and Balaji Kalyankar.