The BJP with the help of Shinde-led Shiv Sena came to power in Asia’s largest civic body BMC, but it was not able to decide the exact role of each party in the standing committee. Each party gets representation in the standing committee as per its number of corporators. Each party’s support is key to get a financial proposal’s approve. Given the standing committee’s importance, the job of reaching out to parties was entrusted to CM Devendra Fadnavis’ close aide Mohit Kamboj. To break the ice and broker an understanding on the committee, Kamboj invited key opposition leaders like Aditya Thackeray, Raj Thackeray and Supriya Sule for his daughter’s birthday at a five-star hotel.
Ajit Pawar party faces Maratha trouble
Marathas and Muslims constitute the core vote base of the NCP. Marathas rallied behind Sharad Pawar. After the NCP split, some supported Ajit Pawar group. A majority of the NCP MLAs belong to the Marathas. After Ajit Pawar’s death, Sunetra Pawar took reins of her husband’s party as its national president. But the day-to-day functioning of the party remains with non-Maratha leaders -- Praful Patel in Delhi and Sunil Tatkare in Maharashtra – creating ripples among the party’s elected representatives. NCP MLAs are worried about erosion of the party base if course correction is not done.
Pawar Senior puts party over his health worry
The 86-year-old NCP (SP) patriarch, Sharad Pawar, of late has been spending more time in hospitals than with party affairs. He admitted that he does not keep well nowadays, so he needs to visit hospital frequently. But despite his respiratory illness, Pawar recently attended Vasandada Sugar Institute’s general body meetings in Pune. He also informed his party leaders that he will soon travel across Maharashtra. During this tour, he would meet farmers and various stakeholders who are facing the heat of the West Asia conflict. To surprise of his party leaders, he said he would regularly tour the state.
Sudhir Suryawanshi
Our correspondent in Maharashtra
suryawanshi.sudhir@gmail.com