Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray with NCP chief Sharad Pawar at a seminar on sugarcane farming, in Pune.
All is not well in Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. It is believed that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is angry with Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil and the functioning of his department. Patil belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had earlier said that the action taken by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate in Maharashtra is an attack on the state home department which needs to be strengthened. Raut had also said that usually the home portfolio is with the chief minister, but since the MVA was a three-party alliance, the home portfolio went to the NCP.
According to a PTI report, there was speculation that Uddhav was not happy with Dilip Walse-Patil’s reply in the assembly to former CM Devendra Fadnavis, alleging that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in the state was conspiring to prepare BJP leaders. Was getting it done. false cases.
Walse-Patil announced an investigation by the Department of Criminal Investigation (CID) into the allegations. A PTI report said that Uddhav had reportedly expressed displeasure over the issue at the cabinet meeting last week.
Walse-Patil met Uddhav on Friday at the Chief Minister’s official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai. The NCP leader denied reports of estrangement and said that the meeting with the CM was over administrative issues.
“I have full faith in my cabinet colleagues and they are doing a great job. Such reports are baseless and misleading,” a statement released later by the Chief Minister’s Office quoted Uddhav as saying.
“The Chief Minister’s Office has already issued a clarification. He’s not upset. We take all decisions taking each other into confidence,” Walse-Patil later told reporters.
When the minister was asked about Sanjay Raut’s comments, Walse-Patil said the Shiv Sena leader’s sentiments were right. “If there is any deficiency in the department, we will try to remove it,” he said.
Asked about the perceived sentiment among some coalition leaders that the Home Department is not giving a befitting reply to the BJP when central agencies are targeting MVA leaders, the minister said that was not the case.
“We have to run the government according to the rules and regulations. I have said earlier also that the Home Minister does not give orders in every matter. Many decisions are taken at the level of DG (Director General of Police), CP (Commissioner of Police) and other senior officers.
“When there is a delay in decision making, it is certainly the responsibility of the Home Minister to monitor and provide momentum. And we are doing our job,” he said.
He also rejected the claim that the NCP is taking a softer approach towards the BJP while the Shiv Sena is taking on the saffron party.
“I don’t get what’s soft stance or hard stance. At the end of the day, decisions are made based on the documents or facts that come before us. Whatever action is taken, it has to be brought up for scrutiny before the court. Needed.”