New Delhi: While neither the rebel MLAs nor the Bharatiya Janata Party has confirmed backing each other amid the power tussle in Maharashtra, according to news agency ANI, the central government has provided 'Y+' category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. This comes amid the challenge by Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and minister Aaditya Thackeray asking the legislators to return to Mumbai.
The sources said that Ramesh Bornare,Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane,Prakas Surve, Sadanand Saranavnkar,Yogesh Dada Kadam,Pratap Sarnaik, Yamini Jadhav,Pradeep Jaiswal,Sanjay Rathod,Dadaji Bhuse,Dilip Lande,Balaji Kalyanar,Sandipan Bhumare have been provided CRPF's security cover by the centre.
The ANI report also said that the rebel Eknath Shinde camp will approach the court after seeking legal opinion on Maharashtra Deputy Speaker's decision to remove him as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. Shinde faction said that the Deputy Speaker should have given at least 7 days to rebel MLAs to reply to the notice.
Several media reports have suggested that the saffron party is supporting Shinde's faction to gain back power in Maharashtra as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was seen in the Radisson Blu premises in Guwahati where the rebel MLAs are currently lodged.
Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray has dared the Shiv Sena rebels to quit the party and face elections. He issued an open challenge to the MLAs revolting against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to "defect and fight",
"If you have guts, leave Shiv Sena - defect and fight. If you think what we have done is wrong, Uddhav (Thackeray) ji's leadership is wrong and we all are wrong, then resign and face elections. We are ready," he said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also took a jibe at the rebellions and tweeted that the rebels will eventually have to leave Guwahati and return to Chowpatty, along with a picture of Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly Narhari Sitaram Zirwal.