Dismissing all speculation on this count, Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra President Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday asserted that Eknath Shinde will continue as the state Chief Minister for his full term till 2024.
“All these talks of change of guard in the state are baseless and false. He will lead the three-party coalition of BJP-Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) for the Lok Sabha and the Assembly polls next year,” he said.
Bawankule also denied any "unrest" within the BJP legislators after the NCP split and Ajit Pawar joining the state government of Shinde and BJP’s Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis as a second Deputy CM along with 8 other ministers.
“The 3-party coalition is now a formidable force with Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar joining hands. It has made the alliance a lot stronger and will benefit us in the elections next year,” he said.
To a question, Bawankule said that the NCP split due to its chief Sharad Pawar and not because of the BJP, as claimed in some quarters.
He cited Ajit Pawar’s frequent statements that Sharad Pawar had adopted different stances on various issues and then backtracked abruptly, hence, it was due to the latter’s style of politics that the NCP broke up.
“The BJP had no role to play in (the split) it. It's high time that Sharad Pawar should introspect instead of blaming the BJP everytime. From what Ajit Pawar said, his uncle did not spare even his family members. It is shocking that he (Sharad Pawar) played politics with the family and his party,” said Bawankule.
He lamented that “a senior and experienced” leader like Ajit Pawar, who served the NCP for nearly 25 years, had to beg for some organisational responsibility.
On predictions that some Shiv Sena MLAs are feeling insecure now and are planning to leave, Bawankule said that Shinde is quite capable of keeping his party intact.
“These leaders had left (Shiv Sena-UBT’s ex-CM) Uddhav Thackeray and reposed their faith in Shinde’s leadership. They are united on the Hindutva plank. So nobody from Shiv Sena will go to join Thackeray again,” said Bawankule.
In a related development, BJP leader Samarjeet Ghatge from Kolhapur today raised a protest against the NCP's new Minister Hasan Mushrif.
Ghatge and his supporters had aggressively campaigned against Mushrif and exposed his alleged corrupt activities in the past. However, Ghatge said that he will not quit the BJP on this issue but will remain with the party though he has been sounded out by other parties to defect.
73rd B.N. Mullik Memorial All India Police Football Championship begins, CM lauds Police's role
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today lauded the role of Tripura Police in carrying out various social activities, apart from significantly improving the state's law and order situation.
Tripura to create, fill up 333 posts in various departments
The Tripura Government has announced plans to create and fill up 333 posts across multiple state departments. The decision was taken during a recent cabinet meeting and was revealed by Cabinet Spokesperson Sushanta Chowdhury at a press conference on Monday.
Explosions near Russian Consulate in France have signs of terrorist attack: Moscow
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday stated that explosions on the territory of the Russian Consulate General in France's Marseilles resemble a terrorist attack.
Air Force Base in Bangladesh attacked, several injured
In a major incident of lawlessness that is currently prevailing in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, several miscreants launched an ambush attack on an Air Force Base in Cox's Bazar on the southeast coast of the country.
Indian tech industry to hit $300 bn revenue in FY26, workforce to reach 5.8 mn in FY25
The Indian tech industry is projected to reach $300 billion revenue in FY26, a Nasscom report said on Monday, adding that in the current fiscal (estimated), the industry will add at least 126,000 net new employees, taking the total workforce to 5.8 million.
Telangana tunnel collapse: L&T teams with advanced equipment join rescue operation
Two teams of construction major Larsen & Toubro with advanced equipment on Monday joined the operation to rescue eight trapped workers from an under-construction tunnel, a portion of which collapsed on February 22 in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district.
Right time to invest in Madhya Pradesh: PM Modi at Global Investors Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the Global Investors Summit here highlighting investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and urging investors to tap available potential in the state.
Govt backs India Inc. bid to become major exporter of power equipment
India is on the path to becoming a major exporter of power equipment, with global players showing strong interest in the country’s domestic manufacturing capabilities, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Pankaj Agarwal has said.