Resentment brews in Sena; Sattar puts MVA Govt fate hanging in the balance as Sena labels him traitor

By: Ashwin Aghor

Mumbai: Even as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is struggling to iron out differences over portfolio allotment, Shiv Sena has already hit the troubled waters. Many Shiv Sena MLAs are unhappy over the inclusion of Abdul Sattar in the state cabinet. Sattar, who was inducted in the council of ministers as Minister of State citing unhappiness over allotment of portfolio and cabinet rank, has since resigned from the cabinet.

Apparently, Sattar resigned over the issue of supporting the Congress candidate for the post of chairperson of Aurangabad Zilla Parishad. Sattar was reported to be dead against supporting Congress candidate and tried to help BJP candidate. When the party leadership did not budge, and was firm on supporting Congress candidate who is member of MVA, Sattar shot off his resignation to party secretary. The widespread discontent in Shiv Sena is likely to jeopardise the fate of the fledgling MVA government in the state.

The resignation has opened a can of worms. Immediately after the resignation, Sattar went incommunicado and locked himself in a hotel room. Reacting to the resignation, Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut wrote him off, saying that the true Sainik is not unhappy. Speaking to media over the issue, Raut said, “Those who are unhappy are not original Sainiks. Sattar has recently joined the party he will take some time to adjust to the Shiv Sena culture.”

Highly reliable sources said that many of the Shiv Sena MLAs are unhappy with the choice of ministers. There is a large scale feeling of being ditched as the party has got only 10 ministers, three of the total 13, are not from Shiv Sena. It is learnt that MLA from Vita – Khanapur Anil Babar, Ramtek MLA Ashish Jaiswal, Congress MLA from Jalna Kailas Gorantyal too are unhappy and mulling the resignation.

In a surprising move, like Sattar, Babar supported Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Sangli Zilla Parishad elections. Interestingly, Shiv Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray had announced that all the future elections, including the ongoing ZP elections, the Sena would contest as MVA ally. Against this backdrop, the rebellion by Sattar and Babar has a lot more to say. “BJP is our natural ally. Hence we supported BJP in ZP elections. There is no communication from the party leadership about contesting ZP elections as MVA ally. Hence we supported BJP,” Babar said.

It is not just the sitting MLAs. But the former MLAs too are now coming out openly against the party leadership. Former health minister Dr Deepak Sawant has admitted that he was feeling dejected as the leadership sidelined him completely. “I am unhappy because the party leadership. I was hoping to get a chance to contribute to the party in some or the other capacity,” he said. Earlier, two time MLA Pratap Sarnaik had given sharp reaction on being denied cabinet berth. “The party leadership might not have considered me worthy of the responsibility. I will try my best to prove my worth,” Sarnaik had reacted.

Former Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP from Aurangabad Chandrakant Khaire has been the most aggressive and vocal about resignation by Abdul Sattar. “Sattar is a traitor. He should not be allowed even to enter Matoshree. We have given our blood and sweat to grow party in the district and today, the outsiders are getting the benefits. What has happened in Aurangabad ZP elections is the conspiracy of Raosaheb Danve and Abdul Sattar,” Khaire said.

The lead character of the story Abdul Sattar, who had locked himself in a hotel room and gone incommunicado, broke the silence after around nine hours. Speaking to media Sattar said, “I will speak at right time. Everything that is happening in Aurangabad will be reported to party chief and he will take the final decision. I am not sure if everyone will be happy with the decision. No one knows what happens after party chief takes the decision.” He refused to react to the allegations by Chandrakant Khaire saying that it is up to Uddhav Thackeray to react to that.