The BJP on Wednesday sought to allay the concerns of Shiv Sena (Shinde) camp leaders after a few of them went vocal with their disapproval over NCP leader Ajit Pawar joining the state government. The Shiv Sena leaders who broke the party to join the BJP last year were left disappointed after Sunday's Cabinet expansion, which saw the Ajit camp leaders bagging eight ministerial berths.
Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said there will not be a change in leadership in Maharashtra government. His response comes as Ajit Pawar expressed his desire to become the chief minister of the state and Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction's prediction that Eknath Shinde will be disqualified soon.
"All our senior leaders including Devendra Fadnavis have already said Eknath Shinde will remain as the chief minister He is doing a good job for the state. Opposition parties are creating confusion," he told reporters.
The new developments have created so disquiet in the party that Shinde had to call a meeting on Wednesday evening to assuage the concerns of Shiv Sena lawmakers, who were upset at the diminished prospects of a ministerial berth.
Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar had went on record to state that some of the leaders were upset and Shinde was aware of the sentiments. Party spokesperson and MLA Sanjay Shirsat too hinted that all was not well in the party. "Party (Shiv Sena) workers and supporters have started asking us how and why did Ajit Pawar and his group join the government? They said will it shrink their political space in the state. But I can assure you that Ajit Pawar joining the government was inevitable," Shirsat said.
The meeting held on Wednesday night at Shinde's official residence 'Varsha' in south Mumbai was attended by Shiv Sena MLAs and MPs. "A lot of issues were discussed in the meeting, including the monsoon session of Parliament and state legislature, strengthening the party's organisation," a party MP was quoted by PTI.
Another MP, who attended the meeting, said Shinde was asked whether he was aware of the developments in the NCP to which he responded in the affirmative. "The political developments took place at a rapid pace due to which Sena lawmakers could not be informed about them in advance. The chief minister stressed the Ajit Pawar-led NCP group joining the ruling alliance will only help the party lawmakers," the MP added.
"He said there was nothing to worry as the BJP and the Shiv Sena have been in the government for a year now and Ajit Pawar joining the government will not affect its functioning in anyway," a Shiv Sena MLC said.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit has revealed that he aspired to become the CM of the state. "I was sworn in deputy CM five times. It is a record but the vehicle stops there and doesn't proceed further. I feel from the bottom of my heart that I should become pramukh (cm) of the state. I have some things which I want to implement and for that becoming pramukh (CM) is essential," Pawar told a meeting convened by him at Mumbai Educational Trust in suburban Bandra.
