Mumbai: Twenty-four hours after the extent of the rebellion within their ranks became apparent, the two alliances in Maharashtra began suppressing the rebellion. On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) expelled five of its rebels from the party, while two of its BJP rebels resigned at the first whiff of disciplinary action. “The process of taking action against the rebels has begun,” added Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance is grappling with 18 rebels in the fighting; The BJP tops the list with nine rebels, including six from the Shiv Sena and three from the NCP (AP). Maha Vikas Aghadi’s opposition alliance has slightly more rebels at 22. Of these, 11 are from Shiv Sena (UBT), seven from Congress and four from NCP-SP.

Warning about deporting the rebels, the BJP demanded the resignation of some of them. On Tuesday, the party’s former MP and national spokesperson Heena Gavit and Pune leader Kiran Dagade resigned.

Gavit sent in his resignation after refusing to withdraw his candidacy against Mahayuti’s official candidate, Amashya Padvi from Akkalkuva. “The betrayal in the district had reached its peak and I had no choice but to resign. “I resigned from all positions in the party,” he said. His father and state tribal development minister Vijaykumar Gavit will remain the BJP candidate from the adjoining Nandurbar constituency.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the party has prepared a list of other rebels and is in the process of taking action against them, which could mean a six-year expulsion.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also expelled five leaders for their anti-party activities. Among them was former MP Rupesh Mhatre, who filed his candidacy as an independent candidate from Bhiwandi against Samajwadi Party’s Rais Shaikh. Although Mhatre had withdrawn his candidacy on Monday, he had accused the party leadership of sacrificing his seat to secure Bandra east seat to Thackeray’s nephew Varun Sardesai.

The party also expelled four party functionaries from Yavatmal district for supporting independent candidate Sanjay Khade from Vani against Sena’s official candidate Sanjay Darekar.

“During the process of filing nominations for the Assembly elections, these five leaders violated the party’s discipline and engaged in anti-party activities,” said Vinayak Raut, former MP and spokesperson of Shiv Sena (UBT). “If we see others engaging in similar anti-party activities, we will take action against them as well,” he added.

Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, has not yet taken action against the rebels. “80 percent of the rebels withdrew their candidacy and only a few are in the fray. Party spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre said any possible action against them would be taken by the chief minister.

“Some of these rebels were tactically allowed to remain in the fight as they were helping the official candidate,” said a Shiv Sena leader, who did not want his name quoted.

Addressing the issue of rebellion, NCP (SP) chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said: “The party chief’s message is very clear. We understand that the rebels want to participate in the elections, but they will have to make sacrifices for the sake of the party as maintaining unity within the MVA is the most important thing at this point. “Party staff will not support any opposition or rebel at the polls and action will be taken against them,” he said.