Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP, on Saturday said that the rebel Maharashtra ministers, who joined  the Eknath Shinde camp, will lose their posts ‘in 24 hours’. His statement comes as the party’s national executive authorised Sena president and state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to take action against the ministers.

Also read: ‘Betrayed’ Uddhav Thackeray refuses to go gently into the good night

The MLAs with Shinde, who handled the department of Urban Development and Public Works, are camping in Guwahati. They have put the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coaliation, which has the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP, in turmoil.

On Saturday, several Shinde supporters assembled near his house in Thane district with saffron flags and large portraits of party founder Bal Thackeray and regional strongman Anand Dighe. Section 144 has been imposed in the area. 

Meanwhile, talking to a Marathi news channel, Raut named a few ministers who he claimed will lose their posts. 

“Ministers like Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse, Sandipan Bhumre were considered to be loyal Shiv Sena workers who were made cabinet ministers by Uddhav Thackeray….the party has given them enough. They have taken the wrong path and will lose their posts in 24 hours,” he said.

Also read: ‘How far can you go’: Uddhav Thackeray’s message to Shiv Sena rebels

Other ministers in the rebel camp are Shambhuraj Desai, Abdul Sattar and Bachchu Kadu. Kadu heads the Prahar Janshakti Party which is part of the Sena-led ruling alliance. 

Gulabrao Patil, popularly known as Gulab Bhau, represents the Jalgaon Rural Assembly Constituency. Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse leads Malegaon Outer Assembly. Bhumre is Shiv Sena’s face in Aurangabad City.

Eknath Shinde has already been suspended from his post in the Shiv Sena. 

Sanjay Raut further claimed that when the Sena had an alliance with the BJP and had asked that the post of chief minister be rotated between the two parties, Thackeray had Shinde in mind for the top post.

The two allies fell out over the sharing of the CM’s post after the 2019 elections, following which the Sena joined hands with Congress and NCP.

Raut, meanwhile, also said that half of the rebels have nothing to do with Hindutva as they claim, but they are facing Enforcement Directorate’s probe.