Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar met on Monday evening as reports circulated of a rift within the ruling coalition over the coronavirus crisis and a lockdown exit strategy for the state worst hit by the pandemic in India.
While the two leaders met at the Chief Minister’s Mumbai home “Matoshree”, many speculated about strained ties over Mr Pawar suggesting that Maharashtra should reopen gradually and wind down its indefinite shutdown to restart economic activities. Mr Pawar, reports suggest, has been unhappy at Mr Thackeray’s reluctance to end the lockdown and actively explore his suggestions.
Both parties say the virus crisis and its impact on the state was discussed in the meeting. Both the Shiv Sena and the NCP have rubbished reports of a rift, saying it was the BJP behind it as it was desperate for power in the state.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, confirming the meeting in a Twitter post this morning, declared there was “no need to worry” about the stability of the government.
“Sharad Pawar and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray met at Matoshri yesterday evening. The two leaders had a discussion for an hour and a half. If anyone is spreading news about the stability of the government, it is their stomach ache. The government is strong. No worries. Jai Maharashtra!!” – this tweet by Mr Raut, one of Shiv Sena’s most prominent leaders, was aimed at putting a lid on talk of a feud.
What aided the buzz was Mr Pawar’s meeting with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari hours before he went to Mr Thackeray’s home.
NCP leader Praful Patel, who accompanied Mr Pawar to that meeting, downplayed its role in the sequence of events.
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