The Eknath Shinde faction of Sh൩iv Sena on Monday took a dig at party president Uddhav Thackeray questioning how many times he had visited the office of Maharashtra chief minister when he was in power and whether he gave time to the party workers.
Deepak Kesarkar, the spokesperson for the Eknath Shinde faction, said Thackeray's "public appearances" ha๊ve increased now, referring to the party outreach programmes launched by the Sena president after the collapse of his government last month.
A day earlier, Thackeray inaugurated a ward-level Shiv Sena office in south Mumbai and addressed ꦺpartyꦅ workers.
“We have raised three questions and we have not yet received answers. As the chief minister (November 2019-June 2022), how many times did Uddhav Thackeray go to his (chief minister's) offi𝓰ce in Mantralaya and met Sena workers? Now, the frequency of his public appearance has increased,” Kesarka𝄹r told reporters.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had often criticised the 'absence' of Uddhav Thackeray in the CM's office 🍰during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A rebellion led by Shiv Sena veteran Eknat𝔍h Shinde and 39 MLAs led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government last month. Shinde was sworn in as the𒐪 chief minister on June 30 with Devendra Fadnavis of BJP as deputy CM.
Kesarkar also sought Thackeray's reply on the claims made by rebel Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale that it was finalised in 2021 that Shiv Sena will join hands with former ally BJP while it was s൩till ruling the state in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress.
“We also asked Thackeray about the details of ꧑the claims made by Sena rebel MP Rahul Shewale that it was finalised in 2021 itself to join hands with the BJ🍷P. If it was true then why these 12 MLAs were suspended and the deal called off,” he asked.
During the Maharashtra Assembly’s monsoon session last year, 12 MLAs of the BJP were suspended for one year for allegedly misbehaving with the presiding officer in the Assembly Spea𝕴ker’s chamber.
The Supreme Court later observed that the suspension of these MLAs for one year is prima facie unconstitutional. Kesarkar said Maharashtra needs⛦ peace for progrඣess.
He said there is no point in organising rallies against leaders of the Shinde camp and trying to pre♛ssure them. “In the last two-and-a-half years (when MVA was in power) maximum time was spent on criticising the Union government. How can one achieve development if you do not keep good relations with the Central government?” he asked without taking the name of Sena MP Sanjay Raut who is a vocal critic of the Centre.
