The statement issued by the Maharashtra government said that the Chief Minister has handed over the portfolios of five Cabinet and four Ministers of State to other ministers ensuring smooth functioning of departments during the monsoon season.

The rebel leader Eknath Shinde’s portfolios - urban development and public undertaking have been given to senior Sena leader and State Industries Minister Subhash Desai.

Higher education, which was with Uday Samant, has been handed over to Aaditya Thackeray.

The departments handled by Sanidpan Bhumre (employment guarantee and horticulture) and Dada Bhuse (agriculture and welfare of ex-servicemen) were given to Shankarrao Gadakh.

Sena sources said that the Chief Minister to ensure uninterrupted function of the government and preempt anybody raising the issue of the non-functioning of the government in the absence of the ministers.

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SC puts on hold disqualification

In a relief to rebel Shiv Sena lawmakers, the Supreme Court on Monday kept in abeyance their disqualification proceedings before the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly till July 11 and sought responses to pleas by rebel MLAs questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification.

No interim order

The top court, however, refused to pass any interim order on the plea of the Maharashtra government that there should not be any floor test in the Assembly and said they can always approach it in case of illegality. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala directed the Maharashtra government to protect the life, liberty, and property of 39 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and their family members.

While issuing notice to the Maharashtra deputy speaker, the top court directed him to put on affidavit records of no-trust notice served upon him by rebel MLAs.

The top court also recorded the statement of Maharashtra’s counsel that adequate steps have been taken to protect the life and property of rebel MLAs.

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