Maha CM Eknath Shinde Dy.CM Devendra Fadnavis meet over power sharing.
Maha CM Eknath Shinde Dy.CM Devendra Fadnavis meet over power sharing.
Days following Ajit Pawar’s breakaway Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction
intertwined the Maharashtra coalition government, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis met with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde late last night to discuss power sharing.
In the meeting that lasted till 2 am, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis discussed a cabinet expansion following the entry of a third ally, Ajit Pawar, who was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday.
The discussions took place hours after the Shinde camp refuted reports that its MLAs had been uncomfortable with the entry of Ajit Pawar into the ruling coalition. The party asserted that Eknath Shinde has no plans of stepping down as Chief Minister.
However, Uday Samant clarified that “We are not resignation givers but takers. His leadership is to take everyone along and be patient. On Thursday, all the MLAs, MPs reposed faith in Eknath Shinde.
All such this reports of discontent is being triggered to apparently malign Eknath Shinde.Eknath Shinde too denied any differences within the party. The CM went on to add that their government now made up of three parties, the strength of our MLAs is more than 200. The government is only getting stronger with the support of PM Modi and Amit Shah.
Reportedly, some Shiv Sena legislators had raised concerns after the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined the state government. Infact, Ajit Pawar’s remark that he “wants to be the Chief Minister” had also created a flutter in political circles.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday expelled 12 rebels — including his nephew Ajit Pawar and former top aide Praful Patel. Sharad Pawar’s national executive meet in Delhi drew a sharp response from the Ajit Pawar faction, which said it has “no legal sanctity”.
While Speaking to the media after the meeting, Sharad Pawar slammed his nephew’s age barb, saying, “I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92.” When asked if he felt “cheated” by his nephew. “No, the party is supreme and he bound by the decision of the party.
As per Ajit Pawar his faction is the real NCP and claims the party name and symbol from the Election Commission. Sharad Pawar has the support of 14. But he needs 36 MLAs, a two-thirds majority of the party’s 53 legislators, before the poll body considers his claim.
Sharad Pawar has written to the election body, objecting to his nephew’s claim for the party symbol. Sources indicated that Pawar Senior will take legal advice and confer with party leaders about the way ahead.
Prior to their mutiny, the rebels had ousted Sharad Pawar from the top post of the party founded and led by him for over two decades. Sources in the Election Commission said according to the rebels’ letter, they had named Ajit Pawar as party president on June 30 — days before his shock move of crossing over to the ruling alliance and taking oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister.
News input KV Raman
