Mumbai: The political earthquake in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh which has almost brought down the Kamal Nath led Congress government. The wobbly Congress government in MP can be pulled down by Jyotiraditya Scindia any time. The aftershocks of the political earthquake in Madhya Pradesh are being now felt in power corridors of Maharashtra with trepidation that the epicenter of the next political earthquake could well be Maharashtra. Today is the birth anniversary of late union minister Madhavrao Scindia, father of Jyotiraditya and he chose the same day for rebel.
In the aftermath of the political crisis in MP, though no Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Maharashtra is yet to react, a senior BJP leader from Goa, Narendra Sawaikar has tweeted “next is Maharashtra” which has raised eyebrows in political circle.
A senior BJP leader, who had served as minister in then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis government during 2014-2019 tenure, while speaking with TheNews21 in Vidhan Bhavan on conditions of anonymity, had recently claimed that Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray is ready to quit from Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and is eager to form the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government in the state at any time.
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“Uddhav ji is not happy with the negotiations he had to do with his allies – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress. Though Uddhav had said it was BJP who forced him to join hands with NCP-Congress to forge an coalition and form the government, he understood his mistake and want to correct it,” claimed the BJP leader in the first week of ongoing budget session, while speaking to this portal.
BJP state leader Chandrakant Patil, former finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and former school education minister Vinod Tawde have all along been claiming that the ‘tri-pod’ government of Maha Vikas Aghadi will not complete its tenure of five year and will collapse due to their internal differences. Patil has predicted the ‘muhurat’ of Gudi Padwa for reunion of Sena-BJP and to form the alliance government. The gudi Padwa – the beginning of Hindu New Year falls on March 25.
According to the BJP leader, the real intent behind meeting of Uddhav Thackeray with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s statement who had said, let the government work for at least three years, indicates Thackeray has made up his mind to break away from the Maha Vikas Aghadi that comprises the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
“If we can assess the 100 days performance of the MVA government un-biasedly, we can conclude that the NCP and the deputy chief Minister Ajit Pawar has exerted their iron fist like grip on the administration and he (Ajit Pawar) is running the government instead of CM Thackeray. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh is nothing but the rubber stamp and he is being operated by remote control by his boss in the party,” claimed the BJP leader.
He further said, “NCP ministers are strong enough and they have more important portfolios compared to Shiv Sena ministers. Obviously, NCP will become more stronger – both organisation and financially – and Sena will be big looser after five years, if this government is to complete its full tenure.”
He claimed, after meeting with PM Modi, Thackeray had made his mind to go with BJP. “He had asked if BJP is ready to come with Sena, why should then wait for the muhurat of Gudi Padwa,” said the BJP leader. He further added, “however, after meeting with Pawar saheb, Uddhav, during his recent Nashik visit, had alleged that the BJP is trying to topple his government on Gudi Padwa day. I don’t know what is the magic Pawar knows, but whenever Uddhav met him, he takes u-turn from his previous stance.
A senior Congress legislator said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi will be in power till Rahul Gandhi would not become the National President of the party. “Congress’ acting president Sonia Gandhi was in favour of going with the Shiv Sena despite serious ideological differences, but Rahul is strongly opposed to the idea of a Congress-Sena alliance.
“This government will continue till Rahul Gandhi takes charge of the party. Once he takes charge of the office, Congress will withdraw support of MVA in Maharashtra and the Thackeray government will collapse,” claimed the Congress legislator.
Meanwhile, though, Thackeray had repeatedly clarified that he will not go along with BJP as the latter had betrayed him, it seems, still his first love is BJP which would bring them together in the near future. After MP experiment, the big question is will the “Operation Lotus” once again be put in operation in Maharashtra?
