Mumbai, June 25: As rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde named their group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb' amid the ongoing tussle with the Uddhav Thackeray faction, the Maharashtra Chief Minister on Saturday said the former faction could take their own decisions, but no one should use Balasaheb Thackeray's name.
Earlier, former Minister of State for Home and rebel MLA Deepak Kesarkar said Eknath Shinde-led MLAs have formed a new group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'. Addressing party leaders during the national executive committee meeting in the Shiv Sena Bhawan, Thackeray said, "Some people are asking me to say something but I've already said that they(rebel MLAs) can do whatever they want to do, I won't interfere in their matters. They can take their own decision, but no one should use Balasaheb Thackeray's name."
Also Read | Punjab Budget session Day 2: Teachers to work as educators only, no other govt assignment to be given: CM Mann
The Chief Minister later left the Shiv Sena Bhawan with Minister Aaditya Thackeray after the conclusion of the meeting. Notably, the decision of the Shinde faction comes at a time when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was holding the executive meeting of Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government continues to be in a combative mode with 38 of its rebel MLAs are camping in Guwahati.
Meanwhile, amid the reports of Shiv Sainiks allegedly ransacking the offices of rebel legislators, the Mumbai Police on Saturday imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in the city.
The Mumbai Police issued a high alert and directed all police stations to ensure security at all political offices in the city. It has been directed that officer-level police personnel shall visit every political office to ensure their safety.
Shiv Sena workers protested against rebel MLAs of the party and burnt effigies outside the party office in Kharghar. Shiv Sena workers ransacked the office of rebel party MLA Tanaji Sawant in Pune on Saturday. Sawant is one of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs of the Eknath Shinde faction and is currently camping in Guwahati, Assam.
"Our party workers 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 Sanjay More, Shiv Sena Pune city head.
Following this, the Pune Police issued an alert and directed all police stations to ensure security at offices related to Shiv Sena leaders in the city.
Also Read | Jalalabad IED blast case: NIA conducts searches at multiple locations in Punjab
Meanwhile, rebel Shiv Sena leader and state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the alleged 'malicious' withdrawal of security of family members of the 38 MLAs camping with him in a Guwahati hotel.
In his letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, Shinde claimed that the security provided to the MLAs at their residence as well as to their family members as per the protocol has been "illegally and unlawfully withdrawn, as an act of revenge".
-PTC News
