Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who is facing a massive mutiny in the Shiv Sena ranks, has stripped nine rebel ministers of their portfolios. Among these nine are five cabinet ministers and four Ministers of State.
The responsibilities of these rebel ministers, now stationed at a hotel in Guwahati along with other rebel MLAs, have been redistributed among other ministers so that "public welfare work did not stall", an order said.
The portfolios of urban development and public works department, earlier with the rebel group leader Eknath Shinde, have been handed over to Subhash Desai now.
Rebel minister Gulabrao Patil has been stripped of the charges of water supply and sanitation. The portfolios have been handed over to Anil Parab.
The portfolios of agriculture and welfare of ex-servicemen, earlier with Dadaji Bhuse, and of employment guarantee and horticulture, held by Sandeepan Bhumare, are now with Shankar Gadakh.
The higher education and technical education portfolios held by Uday Sawant have been handed over to Aaditya Thackeray.
Mr Thackeray has also cracked down on Ministers of State.
Three portfolios of Shambhuraj Desai have been distributed among Sanjay Bansode, Satej Patil and Vishwajit Kadam.
Four ministries with Rajendra Patil (Yadravkar) have been distributed among Vishwajeet Kadam, Prajakt Tanpure, Satej Patil and Aditi Tatkare.
Three portfolios with Abdul Sattar are now with Prajakt Tanpure, Satej Patil and Aditi Tatkare. Four charges with Omprakash Kudu were distributed among Aditi Tatkare, Satej Patil, Sanjay Bansode and Dattatray Bharne.
The crackdown on the rebel ministers comes at a time when the tussle within the Sena ranks, which threatens to topple the Maharashtra government, has reached the Supreme Court.
In separate petitions, the rebels have opposed the Sena's move to disqualify 16 rebel legislators and challenged the rejection of a no trust motion against Deputy Speaker Narahari Zirwal. Mr Shinde has filed another plea, claiming "serious threat" to the lives of the rebel MLAs.
Seven citizens, meanwhile, have filed a public interest litigation in Bombay High Court, seeking action against the rebel leaders for "omission of duties and moral wrongs committed, leading to disrespect towards the public rights and good governance".
The petition urged the high court to direct the rebel leaders to return to the state and resume their duties.