Will sack rebel mins, says Sena; dy speaker summons 16 MLAs

Group To Go To HCBJP Denies Shinde Meeting Fadnavis

- Priyanka Kakodkar & Prafulla Marpakwar

Mumbai: Shiv Sena went on an all-out offensive on Saturday, taking its battle against the rebel camp to the streets and announcing that dissident ministers, including leader of the rebels Eknath Shinde, would be sacked. "Their ministries will go in 24 hours. Seven ministers will go. We were waiting to sort out procedures," said Sena MP Sanjay Raut. The Shinde camp alleged their security cover had been withdrawn, rendering them vulnerable to vandals, while Independent MP Navneet Rana demanded imposition of President's rule.

In a boost to Sena, deputy speaker of the assembly Narhari Zirwal issued summons to 16 rebel MLAs asking them to respond to the plea for their disqualification by Monday evening. The legislature secretariat also dismissed the no-confidence motion against Zirwal on technical grounds, saying it was not in the required format and emailed by a person not a member of assembly.

Now, the rebels are set to move Bombay HC on Monday or Tuesday. "If the deputy speaker does not recognise our group leader, we will go to court," said rebel MLA Deepak Kesarkar.

On Saturday, reports also said Shinde had met Devendra Fadnavis in Vadodara on Friday night. Fadnavis was out of the city, but BJP denied the meeting.

Sena, at its national executive chaired by Uddhav Thackeray, said no other party could use 'Shiv Sena' or 'Balasaheb'.

'Fighting to save Sena from MVA's crocodile grip'

Mumbai: Attempting to tighten the screws as reports emerged on Saturday that Shiv Sena's rebel MLAs may have to merge with another party to escape anti-defection laws, Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweeted after the party resolution, "If they want to ask for votes it should be in their father's name, not in our father's name."