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regular-article-logo Sunday, 12 May 2024

Maharashtra crisis: Uddhav strips 9 rebel ministers of their portfolios

Responsibilities were handed over to other ministers for 'ease of administration'

Our Web Desk Mumbai Published 27.06.22, 01:22 PM
Uddhav Thackeray

Uddhav Thackeray File picture

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  • BJP pulling the strings, says Shiv Sena on Centre's move to provide Y+ category cover to rebel MLAs stationed in a Guwahati hotel
  • Rebel leader Eknath Shinde moves SC on Monday, says their lives are under threat

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray handed over portfolios of nine rebel ministers, who are currently camping in Guwahati, to other ministers, PTI reported on Monday.

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The portfolios of the rebel ministers were being handed over to other ministers for ease of administration, an official statement said.

Nine Maharashtra ministers have so far joined the rebel camp led by Eknath Shinde.

The Sena now has four cabinet ministers, including CM Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab, and Subhash Desai. Barring Aaditya Thackeray, the rest three are MLCs.In the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by the Sena, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had 10 Cabinet-rank ministers before the rebellion and four Ministers of State (MoS), including two from the Sena quota.

All the four MoS have joined the rebel camp in Guwahati.

Earlier in the day, rebel leader Eknath Shinde filed a separate plea in the Supreme Court, claiming a serious threat to his life and that of the other Shiv Sena MLAs who are supporting him. Shinde has claimed that he has the support of more than 50 MLAs, of whom nearly 40 are from Shiv Sena.

Also, a PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court against Eknath Shinde for causing a "political turmoil" in the state and instigating an internal disorder in the state government. The PIL sought appropriate action against the rebel leaders for the "omission of duties and moral wrongs committed, leading to disrespect towards the public rights and good governance".

The litigation, filed by seven citizens of Maharashtra, also sought a direction to the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state to submit a detailed plan of assurance, detailing the process of governance in the absence of several of its ministers.

On Sunday, the Shiv Sena rebels petitioned the Supreme Court against disqualification notices issued by the Maharashtra deputy Speaker, but party sources claimed that over 20 of the MLAs holed up in Guwahati were in touch with them.

The rebels have also challenged in the Supreme Court the deputy Speaker’s authority to disqualify any member, citing the no-confidence motion pending against him.

The Maharashtra Assembly has been without a Speaker since Congress member Nana Patole relinquished the post after being appointed state unit chief.

Sources said the unease in the rebel camp had increased following pressure on it to merge with the BJP, and some of the MLAs had begun exploring the option of returning to the Sena.

The sources said the swelling numbers in Guwahati shouldn’t be taken as a measure of the rebels’ strength because some of the MLAs may have been sent to spy on the group.

“Yes, there are some Trojan horses,” a senior leader said, suggesting that twists to the plot cannot be ruled out in the coming days.

There has been speculation about the Sena sending some MLAs to Guwahati in a strategic move. While the Sena leadership was caught unawares on the first day of the rebellion, it’s surprising that MLAs have kept leaving Mumbai without hindrance in the middle of the crisis.

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