Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state cabinet minister Jayant Patil and party leader Praful Patel reached Matoshree.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Police on Friday put all police stations, especially the ones in Mumbai, on high alert after they received inputs that Shiv Sena workers and supporters may descend on to the streets in large numbers.
In a statement, the Maharashtra Police said, “All Police stations in Maharashtra, especially those in Mumbai, have been ordered to remain on high alert. Police received info that Shiv Sainiks can take to the streets in large numbers. To ensure that peace prevails, Police have been asked to remain alert.”
Meanwhile, amid more Shiv Sena MLAs joining the rebel camp led by Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state cabinet minister Jayant Patil and party leader Praful Patel reached Matoshree, the residence of the Thackerays, to hold a meeting.
Reports of angry Shiv Sena supporters protesting against the rebel camp have also started coming in. In one such incident, a poster of Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande, who is currently in Guwahati with rebel party leader Eknath Shinde, was smeared with ink. Another poster showing his picture was torn in Mumbai, said sources. Rebel MLA Mangesh Kudalkar’s office in Mumbai’s Kurla was also vandalised by angry Shiv Sena workers.
Shiv Sena leader Sachin Ahir said, “Today (Friday) we had a party meeting with district leaders. After Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s speech, party leaders got energy. The (rebel) MLAs may not be here but the party is intact. The party’s full base is there and we will fight with this spirit.”
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “We are Shiv Sainiks and we will fight and we will win. What they (rebel MLAs) are doing is not legal and politically not feasible. It is not happening for the first time with Shiv Sena. Earlier also it had happened but all in vain. This time too, it shall not succeed.”
