City politics feels ripples of MVA drama
| Date :23-Jun-2022 |
Staff Reporter
THE hectic political developments, that have caught the attention of not only Maharashtra but also the nation, had bearing on public discourse in Nagpur too. The ripples of the fast-paced political developments since rebellion of Eknath Shinde, Urban Development Minister and Shiv Sena leader, and MLAs supporting him, were felt in Nagpur too.
As far as the three constituents of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Congress -- were concerned, an anxious silence prevailed in Shiv Sena rank and file in Nagpur, the Second Capital of Maharashtra. On Wednesday morning, however, there was some buzz when Nitin Deshmukh, Shiv Sena MLA, returned from Shinde camp. He returned to Akola, before which he had a brief stop-over at Nagpur airport where he narrated to media how attempts were made to hold him allegedly ‘captive’. Barring that, there was anxiety in Shiv Sena rank and file.
NCP, too, maintained a stoic silence. Probably, as indicated by senior Supriya Sule on Tuesday, NCP office-bearers in Nagpur adopted ‘wait-and-watch’ policy. Publicly, at least, they did not make any statement on their own. However, privately, even among NCP leaders a sense of worry prevailed over whether the MVA Government would survive the political dust-storm raised by rebellion of Shinde.
Congress leaders also maintained silence but one could find signals being sent out to the cadre. Sunil Kedar, Animal Husbandry Minister and senior Congress leader from the district, accompanied Kamal Nath, senior leader of the party and Observer appointed by All India Congress Committee. Kamal Nath interacted with senior leaders of the party in the State.
Dr Nitin Raut, Energy Minister and Guardian Minister of district, attended the State Cabinet meeting chaired through on-line mode by Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief. After the meeting, Dr Raut told mediapersons in Mumbai that Thackeray wore a smile and that was good enough an indication of confident handling of the situation.
Meanwhile, Dr Ashish Deshmukh, former MLA, demanded that Nana Patole,
President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), should resign from the position. According to Dr Deshmukh, Patole should own moral responsibility for defeat of Chandrakant Handore, senior Congress leader and the candidate with ‘first preference’ for the party in recently held Legislative Council elections. “Patole should resign as MPCC President and party should conduct a probe into Handore not polling desired number of votes,” he added.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is said to gain the most from the developing situation, also maintained surprising silence. Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition (Assembly), called a meeting of party legislators at Mumbai and asked them not to speak anything on the situation.
Sources said that the instruction was given to avoid any ‘leak’ of the strategy that would go into crucial decision-making.