Maharashtra political crisis: Keep central forces ready, says governor, seeks more cover for rebels

MUMBAI: Amid rising tensions between the two groups jostling for leadership in Shiv Sena, Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has written to Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla requesting that adequate numbers of central security forces "be made and kept ready" in case the law and order situation in the state warrants their intervention. At least 15 Sena MLAs from the Eknath Shinde camp, including four from the city, have been provided Y+ security cover by the CRPF amid reports of violence and protests.

Referring to "provocative statements" by Sena leaders, the governor has also written to the state director general of police Rajnish Seth asking him to provide adequate police protection to the MLAs, their families and homes immediately. "Offices and homes of some of the MLAs have been vandalised with the police being a mute spectator," Koshiyari's letter said.
A city police source said Mumbai MLAs Sada Sarvankar (Shivaji Park), Mangesh Kudalkar (Nehru Nagar), Prakash Surve (Borivili) and Dilip Lande (Sakinaka) were allocated five CRPF personnel each, who will be deployed at their offices and residences. The MLAs are currently in Guwahati with more than 30 others who belong to the rebel faction. Protestors had smashed a board outside Kudalkar's office on Friday. At other places, Sainiks were reported to have blackened or damaged posters of rebel MLAs.

Anticipating more protests by Sena workers, police have beefed up security across the city and officers are meeting political activists to assess the situation.
In his letter to the DGP, Koshyari said he has received a representation from 38 MLAs of Shiv Sena, two of Prahar Jan Shakti Party and seven Independents stating that police security for their families "has been illegally and unlawfully withdrawn."
The letter reads: "They have also raised serious concerns about the safety of their homes and families in context of the provocative and threatening statements being made by certain political leaders. I therefore, direct you to provide adequate police protection to the MLAs, their families and homes on an immediate basis." However, an IPS officer told TOI that the security of MLAs was never withdrawn.

Koshyari out of hospital, back at Raj Bhavan
Governor B S Koshyari on Sunday got discharged from hospital and returned to Raj Bhavan after testing Covid negative. Though asymptomatic, he was admitted to a Mumbai hospital for four days as a precaution.