Amid raging speculation of a rift within Maharashtra government allies — the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — over the State Home Department not being ‘efficient’ enough, the Opposition BJP has dubbed the Sharad Pawar-led NCP “opportunistic” while ‘warning’ Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray that Mr. Pawar’s party would ultimately “betray” him.
The latest note of discord within the ideologically opposed, ruling tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition (of the Sena, the NCP and the Congress) was struck by Sena leader and spokesperson Sanjay Raut. He insinuated that the Home Department under the NCP’s Dilip Walse-Patil was not being ‘aggressive’ enough in its response to frequent raids by central agencies on MVA leaders — which the three parties have long accused of being the handiwork of the Centre.
“The Home Department should be more efficient. I had discussions with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in this regard. The fact that investigating agencies are brazenly entering Maharashtra and taking action [against MVA leaders or persons connected to them] is an assault on the Home Ministry. Such incidents should be taken seriously. If anyone is ‘soft-pedalling’ or restraining themselves, then they are preparing a noose for their own hanging,” Mr. Raut had reportedly said, urging the State Home Department to take “bold steps” and face up to the Centre’s alleged misuse of probe agencies.
