<p>Mumbai: Even as Eknath Shinde took a holy dip in the Ganges in Prayagraj coinciding with Maha-Kumbh Mela festivities, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik of the BJP held a Janata Darbar in the Deputy Chief Minister’s bastion of Thane adding to the cold war between the two saffron allies of the ruling MahaYuti.</p><p>In Maharashtra, Naik, who before joining the BJP, was part of the undivided Shiv Sena led by late Balasaheb Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray and then with undivided NCP headed by Sharad Pawar, has introduced the concept of ‘Janata Darbar’ (public hearing) to solve problems of the common people. </p><p>Shinde, who holds the three ministries of Urban Development, Housing and Public Works (Public Undertakings), holds charge of two districts as guardian minister - Mumbai City and Thane. </p>.Karnataka Ministers call for peace, urge unity amid border dispute with Maharashtra .<p>On the other hand, Naik is the guardian minister of Palghar district. </p><p>While generally it is a practice among ministers to hold Janata Darbars in party offices or ministerial bungalows or their home districts and as guardian ministers, Naik sprang a surprise by holding Janata Durbar in Shinde’s bastion of Thane, from where he is a five-time MLA.</p><p>Naik, also a five-time MLA, is a political heavyweight from Navi Mumbai and wields influence in Thane and neighbouring Raigad districts. </p><p>Amid the tensions between the BJP and Shiv Sena, Naik, however, denied that there were any issues. "Leadership in politics is dynamic and changes based on public sentiment…no leader holds permanent dominance in politics and that acceptance by the people ultimately determines leadership,” he said, denying any political oneupmanship. “The Janata Darbar is to resolve people’s issues,” he said, adding that the next such meeting would be held in Thane in March. </p><p>“The MahaYuti government operates under a progressive alliance, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde (the chief leader of Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (who is the NCP President) working together. There is no competition among allies, nor any attempt at political one-upmanship,” said Naik, a political veteran.=</p><p>Naik also extended his support to Shiv Sena leader and state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s initiative to hold similar meetings in Palghar. Naik said that he would be visiting every tehsil in Thane and Palghar districts to ensure that public concerns are addressed effectively.</p><p>Before the Janata-Durbar, Naik’s son and former MP Sanjeev Naik, had held multiple meetings with Thane BJP leaders to oversee preparations for the event. </p>
<p>Mumbai: Even as Eknath Shinde took a holy dip in the Ganges in Prayagraj coinciding with Maha-Kumbh Mela festivities, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik of the BJP held a Janata Darbar in the Deputy Chief Minister’s bastion of Thane adding to the cold war between the two saffron allies of the ruling MahaYuti.</p><p>In Maharashtra, Naik, who before joining the BJP, was part of the undivided Shiv Sena led by late Balasaheb Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray and then with undivided NCP headed by Sharad Pawar, has introduced the concept of ‘Janata Darbar’ (public hearing) to solve problems of the common people. </p><p>Shinde, who holds the three ministries of Urban Development, Housing and Public Works (Public Undertakings), holds charge of two districts as guardian minister - Mumbai City and Thane. </p>.Karnataka Ministers call for peace, urge unity amid border dispute with Maharashtra .<p>On the other hand, Naik is the guardian minister of Palghar district. </p><p>While generally it is a practice among ministers to hold Janata Darbars in party offices or ministerial bungalows or their home districts and as guardian ministers, Naik sprang a surprise by holding Janata Durbar in Shinde’s bastion of Thane, from where he is a five-time MLA.</p><p>Naik, also a five-time MLA, is a political heavyweight from Navi Mumbai and wields influence in Thane and neighbouring Raigad districts. </p><p>Amid the tensions between the BJP and Shiv Sena, Naik, however, denied that there were any issues. "Leadership in politics is dynamic and changes based on public sentiment…no leader holds permanent dominance in politics and that acceptance by the people ultimately determines leadership,” he said, denying any political oneupmanship. “The Janata Darbar is to resolve people’s issues,” he said, adding that the next such meeting would be held in Thane in March. </p><p>“The MahaYuti government operates under a progressive alliance, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde (the chief leader of Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (who is the NCP President) working together. There is no competition among allies, nor any attempt at political one-upmanship,” said Naik, a political veteran.=</p><p>Naik also extended his support to Shiv Sena leader and state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s initiative to hold similar meetings in Palghar. Naik said that he would be visiting every tehsil in Thane and Palghar districts to ensure that public concerns are addressed effectively.</p><p>Before the Janata-Durbar, Naik’s son and former MP Sanjeev Naik, had held multiple meetings with Thane BJP leaders to oversee preparations for the event. </p>