Long before a revolt of a section of Shiv Sena MLAs, baffled the party-led Maharashtra government and became the talk of the town, these MLAs had completed their task of handing over slips to their security personnel on their way to Surat, Gujarat. . and later Guwahati, where they are currently camping.
However, what emerges in the ongoing political drama involving these disgruntled MLAs, led by Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde, is beyond doubt that they managed to throw dust in the eyes of their security guards as well as party workers. The escape plan to the neighboring kingdom is a mystery, which has now given rise to discussions of intelligence failure.
A police official said the MLAs gave slips to their security officials and police personnel citing personal reasons so that the government machinery was unaware of their plans. News18 Take a look at these turn of events:
what has come up
From Tuesday, Maharashtra’s ruling alliance – the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) – began to grapple with its worst crisis since it came into existence in 2019, when Shinde rebelled against the party and forced some MLAs initially from Gujarat and Later transferred to Assam, both BJP ruled states. , The crisis, which erupted hours after elections to the Legislative Council on June 20, saw the opposition BJP manage to get its fifth candidate elected. After the results, Shinde went incommunicado. He and a group of rebel MLAs first stayed in Gujarat. Since Wednesday, he has been camping in a hotel in Guwahati along with at least 38 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and 10 independents. Their rebellion became public on the morning of June 21.
‘Will return in a few minutes’: How MLAs gave security slip?
Talking about how these MLAs managed to escape from Mumbai to Surat, located about 280 kms away, a police officer said, “Several MLAs provided security by the state police department told their security personnel that their Had some personal work and asked him to wait till he returned. However, after that he left for Surat without informing him.
He said a Mumbai MLA was sitting in his office and sipping coconut water, told his supporters that he would return in a few minutes and left. Another party MLA said that he has to go home for some work. He said that an office-bearer of Yuva Sena was traveling in his car, but after walking some distance, the MLA forced him to alight and moved on.
“Another MLA asked his security personnel to go outside a hotel, saying he had some work inside, but left his guard and fled through the other gate,” he said. When the MLA did not turn up, the security officials informed their superiors, the official said, adding that this has happened in the case of some other MLAs as well.
Meanwhile, Independent MP Navneet Rana has now demanded to provide security to the families of the disgruntled MLAs.
What was his protective cover like?
Four of these MLAs had put in the category of security cover. He said these leaders include Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister of State for Home Shambhuraj Desai, Ministers Abdul Sattar and Sandipan Bhumre.
He said these four MLAs were guarded by SPOs (Special Police Officers) and security officers, but their security personnel were not aware of their plans as their personal itinerary was not disclosed.
“By the time the SPOs informed their seniors about the movement to those seeking security, the MLAs had crossed the state border. All this drama came to the fore within a few hours. The police officers deployed for their security were not aware of the escape plan,” he said.
As per reports, the security of MLAs and MPs is based on their perception of personal danger.
‘No intelligence cover failure’
Senior home department officials said there was no intelligence failure as the state intelligence had reported some Shiv Sena MLAs being in touch with opposition party leaders for the past few months. “There was nothing on paper as everything was conveyed verbally to the people concerned, but no action was taken on the information,” he said. Two days ago, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had reportedly expressed his displeasure with state home minister Dilip Walse-Patil, who is from the NCP, about the escape of Shiv Sena MLAs and questioned whether the state home ministry and intelligence Why did the department not alert the MVA leadership. About leaving Maharashtra for the safe haven of rebel MLAs in BJP ruled Gujarat.
with PTI input
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