Over the past month, the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has found itself in the middle of one controversy after another because of leaders from the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), leading the Opposition to target Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over it, asking if his hands were tied when it came to acting against errant ministers belonging to the BJP’s allies.
On July 11, a video of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat, who currently handles the Social Justice portfolio, went viral. In it, he is allegedly seen with a bag full of cash. While accepting that the video was from his bedroom, Shirsat claimed the bag had clothes in it and not money as claimed. Days later, Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Yogesh Kadam, of the Shiv Sena faced allegations of illegal sand trading and operating a dance bar in Mumbai. It was Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab who alleged during a Legislative Council session that Kadam’s mother owns the bar and that it was functioning as a dance bar in violation of the law. Apart from these, Shiv Sena ministers Sanjay Rathod (Soil and Water Conservation) and Dadaji Bhuse (School Education) have also landed in controversies over recruitments and transfers in their respective departments.
Then there was the case involving Manikrao Kokate of the NCP who faced backlash after being seen playing an online card game in the Assembly. Though he was divested of his agriculture portfolio, he was given charge of the sports department at the behest of Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar. In Shirsat’s case, Fadnavis has ordered a probe into the tender of a hotel sale involving the Sena leader’s son Siddhant.
Expressing sympathy with the CM, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said he was receiving backlash due to the actions of his allies. “How long will he keep seeing his image being violated? Fadnavis is synonymous with being helpless,” he said.
The Opposition party has decided to mobilise over the issue, with Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday accusing the CM of shielding “corrupt ministers” and urging the Opposition to organise small gatherings across the state on corruption in the state government.
“In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, PM Narendra Modi held ‘chai pe charcha (discussions over chai)’. Now, all of us in the Opposition parties should hold ‘corruption pe charcha (discussion over corruption)’,” he said.
Demanding the sacking of the controversial ministers, Thackeray recently said, “Why is Fadnavis reluctant to take action? All suspects should be asked to resign. You carry out an investigation. If they are proven clean, then they can return.”
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According to the Opposition, the question is whether Fadnavis is buckling under pressure from the allies or if there is pressure from the Centre to not act. To this end, Shiv Sena president and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s two visits to Delhi last month and his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have generated a lot of buzz. Sources said one of the subjects on the discussion table was the problem posed by the Sena leaders.
A BJP minister said on the condition of anonymity, “Fadnavis wanted to take strong action against all the controversial ministers. But that did not happen… Shinde urged the BJP central leadership not to act against his party leaders, especially ahead of the local bodies polls. And he also reassured he would speak to his ministers to ensure good conduct.”
‘Stern warning is the first step’
At a Cabinet meeting on July 29, the CM is learnt to have issued a “stern warning” to the errant ministers, telling them their “irresponsible statements and poor conduct” had tarnished the Mahayuti’s image. “The CM told them to be mindful and not trigger controversies while focusing on development. He also asked them to issue only quick clarifications if charges are levelled against them,” said a minister who was present at the meeting.
BJP insiders said Fadnavis also conveyed to the coalition partners that the government cannot “remain a mute spectator if serious issues arise”. “He is likely to crack the whip after the local body elections, scheduled for October-November,” said a source.
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Sources close to the CM claimed the warning to the ministers was only the “first step” towards “taming” the BJP’s allies. “In December, when his government completes one year in power, Fadnavis will ruthlessly assess each minister’s performance and those found lacking will likely be shown the door,” said a source.
Asked about the Opposition’s criticism and proposed campaign on the issue of corruption in government, state BJP president Ravindra Chavan said, “Fadnavis gives a response to rivals through his work. The people will judge us based on our work. The Opposition may shout and make all kinds of charges. But everybody knows Fadnavis’s high credibility and clean image.”