MUMBAI: Days ahead of Maharashtra cabinet expansion, Aaditya Thackeray, a youth leader of UBT sena camp, on Saturday predicted a big change in the government starting with chief minister Eknath Shinde.
He said he has heard that Shinde has been "asked to resign", indicating that Shinde's chief ministerial chair may be in jeopardy after Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs have joined his year-old state ministry. If this happens, it would be a "big surprise" in the state politics as predicted by many. Ajit Pawar currently shares the deputy chief minister post with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis in the government led by Shinde.
"The original back-stabbers (gaddars), who left us a year ago, appear to have no clue as to where they will be and how they will be placed in the new government. Those who have lost the faith of people by ditching us have to now run the government at the mercy of others," said Thackeray junior pointing out that those who rebelled against us expecting ministerial posts in the new government have not received anything since a year now.
Thackeray junior's comments come amid reports that the BJP is sidelining Eknath Shinde group after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rebel Ajit Pawar and his followers joined the government. "I have heard that chief minister (Eknath Shinde) has been asked to resign and there might be some change (in the government)," Aaditya Thackeray told the media.
Recently, a senior leader in Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed that around 20 MLAs from Shinde's group were in touch with his party since NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the state government. "Since Ajit Pawar and other NCP leaders joined the government, 17-18 MLAs from the Shinde camp have contacted us," Sanjay Raut had claimed Shinde, however, has maintained that he has no plans of stepping down and there is no revolt in the Shiv Sena over the NCP rebels.
"We are not resignation givers but takers. His leadership is to take everyone along and be patient. Yesterday, all the MLAs, MPs have reposed faith in Eknath Shinde... all this (reports of discontent) is being done to malign Eknath Shinde," Shiv Sena leader and industries minister Uday Samant said.
The Shiv Sena leader, a member of the faction that broke away from the then Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit last year, said Ajit Pawar's move had cleared them of "gaddar" (traitor) and "khoke" (crore) taunts, referring to jibes that have beset the rebel camp since they switched sides.
"Now, it is clear that Ajit Pawar joining us means the last coalition (Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress led by Uddhav Thackery) was not working well," Samant said. It may be mentioned here that on Friday the close aide of Uddhav Thackeray and deputy speaker of state legislative council Neeral Gorhe switched sides by joining Eknath Shinde.
