NCP Chief Pawar Meets Chief Minister Thackeray

NCP chief Pawar meets Chief Minister Thackeray amid speculation of differences in Maha Vikas Aghadi government: Maharashtra.

NCP President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray amid speculation in political circles in Maharashtra over differences in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The meeting took place amid rumors that the Shiv Sena was contemplating a deal with its ally BJP for 35 years.

According to sources, NCP chief Sharad Pawar went to Varsha, the official bungalow of the Chief Minister in south Mumbai’s posh Malabar Hill area, and had a long discussion.

The meeting is being held ahead of the two-day monsoon session of the state legislature beginning July 5.

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday also issued a whip to the party MLAs to attend the full two-day proceedings.

There are differing views among MVA participants on how to deal with issues like Maratha quota and OBC reservation.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole had recently said that the alliance with Shiv Sena has an “expiry date” and that his party will fight alone in the next elections.

Taking a jibe at the oldest party, Thackeray had said that those who talk of contesting elections alone without offering a solution to the problems of the people will be beaten up with slippers.

Significantly, recently, Sharad Pawar had expressed confidence that the MVA government in Maharashtra, which came to power in 2019, would complete its term and praised ally Shiv Sena, saying it is the party one can rely on.

He made these remarks in the backdrop of a one-on-one meeting between Thackeray and PM  Modi in Delhi and Pawar’s meeting with BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai earlier this month.

Pawar had also said that the MVA would do well in the next assembly and Lok Sabha elections, indicating that the three parties may contest the 2024 elections together.