Mumbai: The cold war between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has come to notice; the two top leaders are embroiled in a fresh controversy regarding the scaled-down security cover for state-level legislators and leaders. There was also a recent review of security arrangements for all MLAs and important politicians by the Home Department, which reduced protection for several such persons, stating that they were not facing “any serious threat.”
This decision has generated dissatisfaction, especially among MLAs of the Shinde faction, as 20 of their legislators have been given lower-level security. The Shinde camp was given additional security after their rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in 2022, but the ongoing decision comes as a setback. More than 40 MLAs and 12 MPs from the Shinde faction were given security during that time, and some were also given Y-category protection. However, those who conducted the review said the threat perception for many of these leaders has diminished, justifying a cut in their security cover.
The decision has not gone well with Shinde’s loyalists, who reportedly voiced their reservations to the Deputy Chief Minister. Shinde’s aide, speaking on/ background, said: “This is a clear attempt to demoralise the leadership and create friction.”
“Second, why is this decision being made now?
The Home Department’s decision is also not exclusive to the Shindes. Many other prominent NCP and BJP leaders also had their security details reduced. But the eye is still on the Shinde camp, which has gained prominence lately and is a loggerhead with the BJP-led state government.
Political observers believe that the security review may be a political ploy by the Fadnavis-led government to show their dominance over the Shinde faction. Dr Meera Deshmukh, a Mumbai-based political commentator, said: “This is not mere security, this is politics. “It exposes the internal divide at the top of the government.”
But now, all look at how Eknath Shinde and party men react to the controversy. Given the already-fraught political situation in the state, it remains to be seen what kind of toll this would take on the BJP-Shinde faction nikah.
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