NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday refuted the speculations of a rift within the Mahayuti alliance and a subsequent meeting with union minister Amit Shah over the issue.
While talking to reporters, Shinde said, “Union home minister Amit Shah is a leader of our NDA and Maha Yuti alliance. He was in Raigad yesterday, attended a program in Mumbai, and was here again today. Since he is a leader of our alliance, we naturally meet.”
“During our meeting, we discussed and briefed him on the ongoing development projects in the state,” he added.
The appointment of BJP leader Girish Mahajan and NCP’s Aditi Tatkare as guardian ministers of Nashik and Raigad has sparked speculation about potential disagreements between Shiv Sena, NCP, and the BJP.
Pawar had stated that the alliance partners will discuss these matters with Amit Shah during the visit.
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena is also reportedly upset over some files of ministries held by the party getting stuck with deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio. There is also speculation about the Shiv Sena being miffed at CM Devendra Fadnavis reversing some decisions taken by the previous Shinde government.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party also defended Shinde and said that the Shiv Sena chief would directly talk to Ajit Pawar over any issue.
“Eknath Shinde is a good leader. He would not use such ways to raise complaints before Shah. Shinde is such a leader who will not wait and raise it with Amit Shah. He would directly speak with deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar,” BJP’s Sudhir Mungantiwar said.
Shah had visited Maharashtra on Saturday, during which he attended an event in Raigad Fort to mark the 345th death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The ruling alliance comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.
It came to power in December after a landslide victory in the assembly polls. Shinde, who was CM from June 2022, however, had to be content with the deputy CM’s post in the Fadnavis government.
