THE Centre on Sunday extended Y-plus security cover of CRPF commandos to at least 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, officials said. Those who were provided the security cover include Ramesh Bornare, Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane, Prakas Surve and 10 others. Their families living in Maharashtra too will be

secured as the security blanket entails house protection teams, they said.

Officials said the security has been sanctioned to the Legislators following a recommendation made by Central security agencies to the Ministry of Home Affairs, stating they and their families faced potential threats to their physical security owing to the current political scenario in Maharashtra. About four to five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos, in shifts, will be securing each MLA once they are in Maharashtra, they added.

A majority of Shiv Sena MLAs have shifted their loyalty to Minister Eknath Shinde and are currently camping in Guwahati, plunging theMVA Government led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Sena, into a crisis.

Assam BJP Ministers meet rebel Shiv Sena MLAs at Guwahati hotel:ASSAM Ministers Ashok Singhal and Pijush Hazarika on Sunday visited the luxury hotel in Guwahati, where dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is camping with other MLAs from Maharashtra, and held a series of discussions with them, sources said.