Maharashtra Ruling Alliance Rift Widens? Sources Say Latest Flashpoint Is…

Mumbai:

Less than three months after it won the Maharashtra elections by a landslide, the rift within the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance seems to be widening with the withdrawal of ‘Y’-security cover to some MLAs emerging as the latest flashpoint. Sources said that while the cover has been downgraded or withdrawn for legislators from all parties, the number is highest for the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which is upset over the move. 

After Mr Shinde rebelled and joined hands with the BJP in 2022, the Maharashtra government had given Y-security cover to 44 state legislators and 11 Lok Sabha MPs who had supported him. Sources said that, based on a security assessment, the cover has now been downgraded or withdrawn for all Shiv Sena MLAs and other leaders, including key aides of the party chief, who are not ministers. 

Sources said the cover has been downgraded or withdrawn for leaders from the BJP and the NCP as well, but the leaders affected from the Sena are reportedly 20 – the highest, by far, of the three parties.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, said decisions on security cover are taken by the Security Review Committee. The panel reviews the security from time to time and decides accordingly. “There is no political interference in the decisions by the committee. Therefore, no one should do politics on it,” he said