The ongoing feud between the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde witnessed another duel on Monday when the Home Department downgraded security cover of at least 20 Shiv Sena MLAs and some other senior leaders from their party. While it looks like a fair decision considering the needless burden on the exchequer, the decision is unlikely to go down well with Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde who is having ‘cold-relations’ with CM Fadnavis ever since he replaced him as chief minister last year.

According to the Home Department, the security of MLAs has been downgraded after the review and recommendations of the Threat Perception Committee. As a result of the decision, about 20 Sena MLAs will now have just one police constable to secure them in place of earlier Y plus category cover that also included an escort vehicle. Meanwhile, some functionaries of the BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP like Ravindra Chavan (BJP working President), Pravin Darekar, Suresh Khade, Pratap Patil Chikhalikar (NCP) etc have also lost their heavy security cover.

But even if the decision is fair considering that an MLA nowhere gets a Y plus security cover (unless facing genuine threat) in the country and is otherwise nothing but a waste of taxpayers money, Shinde may not see merit in the decision. For it is not the first time that BJP has rubbed Shinde and his men the wrong way.........

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