The state cabinet, which met at Sahyadri, the government guest house at Malabar Hill, decided to drop Anil Deshmukh (school education), Shivajirao Naik (Public Works), Dilip Sopal (Law and Judiciary), Tukaram Dighole (Rural Development) and Dr Vijaykumar Gavit (Public Health). Soon after the brief meeting, Rane sent a one line message to Governor Dr P C Alexander, recommending removal of the five ministers. V K Jairath, secretary to the governor, told The Indian Express that since Alexander was away at Kochin, the formality of confirming the cabinet decision would be completed by late night after his arrival.

Senior leaders of the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance were upset with the independents' proximity to Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar. Specially in last few days, when theindependents openly started discussing poll strategy with Pawar aides Chhagan Bhujbal and Madhukar Pichad, the alliance leaders reportedly started pressurising Rane to take action against them. The CM had reportedly asked the leader of the independent ministers, Anil Deshmukh, to clarify their stand. On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde had for the last few days been claiming in his poll campaign that half of the independents were with the alliance.

When contacted, Shivajirao Naik, minster of state for Public Works Department, said there was no question of Rane sacking the five. ``We met at my residence at 9.30 am today and discussed the situation. In the changed political scenario, it was not proper on our part to continue being in the government and have talks with other political parties for the elections. We unanimously decided to resign from the cabinet and submitted our resignations to the CM by 10 am. Now, all of us feel free,'' said Naik.When asked if his tenure as a minister wassuccessful, Naik said all independent ministers were grateful to the alliance government, its two chief ministers and colleagues in the cabinet. He said the independents deserved at least one cabinet berth as ``it was because of the independents, that the government could survive.'' A total of 44 independent MLAs supported the Sena-BJP alliance in the House of 288 in March 1995. The alliance made 10 of them ministers of state and few others were appointed as chairpersons on different government bodies.

More independent ministers of state are expected to resign next week before the CM could sack them, Naik said. He added that all independent ministers would definitely contest next Assembly elections on a party ticket but refused to identify which party they would go with. When specifically asked about joining NCP, Naik said the decision will be taken in a meeting on Sunday.