Mumbai turned into a fortress ahead of Thursday’s floor test, with the city police deploying 5,000 cops on the streets to ensure the safety of the rebel MLAs as well as thwart attempts to disturb law and order. The department has also reserved 10 companies of State Reserved Police Force and 750 additional personnel. On Wednesday evening, a few jumbo planes of the Indian Air Force carrying Rapid Action Force personnel arrived at the city airport. 

Sources said the police have been alerted by the Special Branch and State Intelligence Department (SID) that Shiv Sainiks supporting Uddhav Thackeray might hit the street in large numbers to protest against the 39 rebel MLAs of their own party. At the same time, backers of the Shinde camp are also likely to come out.