Y-plus security, shift from Delhi...: Operation Tiger intensifies as 6 rebel MPs wait to join Shinde Sena

With Operation Tiger—or the polarisation of the Shiv Sena (UBT) by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena—more likely to go into effect in the near future, the six rebel MPs on their way out will now get Y-plus security.

The six rebel MPs whose security detail will now be upgraded are Omraje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, and Bhausaheb Wakchoure.

According to a June 17 directive from Maharashtra's State Intelligence Department (SID), the move was taken in the wake of recent potential threats to the MPs, following their shock decision to leave the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Sena with just three of its nine MPs.

Y-plus security involves 8-11 security personnel, often including a couple of commandos, in response to a heightened threat perception.

Amid the wait for the rebel bloc to join the Shinde Sena, the six MPs will also be shifted from Delhi to Jaipur as a precautionary measure, a Lokmat report said, citing sources.

This is reportedly one of the key precautions that the Shinde Sena has taken to prevent the MPs from attending Uddhav Thackeray's crucial meeting today, despite the whip being issued.

As a result, only three Lok Sabha MPs—Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje—and Sanjay Raut (the party's lone Rajya Sabha MP), were present at the meeting.

This has led to the Shiv Sena (UBT) issuing show cause notices for the six MPs, who have violated the party whip. The party is also mulling the cancellation of their memberships.

The news of the defection has also led to protests in places like Yavatmal, where Shv Sena (UBT) workers burnt effigies of Sanjay Deshmukh, while Parbhani, Beed, and Hingoli also saw similar arson and 'symbolic funerals'.