<p>Mumbai: Amid the ongoing tensions among the Mahayuti-NDA allies, Maharashtra Chief Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/devendra-fadnavis">Devendra Fadnavis</a> on Friday said that he was okay to deal with people across the board including those from Thane and Baramati.</p><p>This was clearly a reference to Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who hail from Thane and Baramati, respectively.</p><p>Fadnavis’ comments in lighter vein came during an interactive session ‘Governing the Future: AI & Public Policy’ at Mumbai Tech Week 2025.</p><p>When a question was asked with whom he finds difficulty in dealing with, people of Thane or Baramati, Fadnavis said: “You should ask them…whether they are comfortable to deal with me, only they can tell…….I am okay with people of Thane, Baramati…I am okay with anybody."</p><p>The statement of Fadnavis assumes significance in the wake of the reported differences between the three ruling allies - BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP - which has also come under attack from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.</p><p>Shinde, who is the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, has made his views known publicly, however, had maintained that there is “thanda thanda cool cool” between the three allies while Pawar had said that there are “no differences” within the coalition.</p>.Changing political dynamics, rift in Mahayuti set up a tough Budget Session for Fadnavis .<p>The latest of the stand-off was because of Fadnavis turning down 16 recommendations from Shiv Sena and NCP ministers for the post of their secretaries (PSs) and officers on special duty (OSDs) describing them as fixers.</p><p>Shinde had recently said: “Do not take me lightly. I have already said this to those who took me lightly in the past. I am an ordinary party worker, but I am a worker of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe Saheb and so people should keep that in mind. Those who took me lightly saw that I changed the government in 2022 and brought a double engine government that people wanted.”</p><p>On the other hand, Pawar had taken a dig at Shinde saying: "Recently, Shinde used the phrase 'don't take me lightly'. It is still not clear who was the target of those remarks…it is still not clear whether ‘mashaal' (the election symbol of Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray) should not be taken lightly or someone else should not take him lightly.”</p>
<p>Mumbai: Amid the ongoing tensions among the Mahayuti-NDA allies, Maharashtra Chief Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/devendra-fadnavis">Devendra Fadnavis</a> on Friday said that he was okay to deal with people across the board including those from Thane and Baramati.</p><p>This was clearly a reference to Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who hail from Thane and Baramati, respectively.</p><p>Fadnavis’ comments in lighter vein came during an interactive session ‘Governing the Future: AI & Public Policy’ at Mumbai Tech Week 2025.</p><p>When a question was asked with whom he finds difficulty in dealing with, people of Thane or Baramati, Fadnavis said: “You should ask them…whether they are comfortable to deal with me, only they can tell…….I am okay with people of Thane, Baramati…I am okay with anybody."</p><p>The statement of Fadnavis assumes significance in the wake of the reported differences between the three ruling allies - BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP - which has also come under attack from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.</p><p>Shinde, who is the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, has made his views known publicly, however, had maintained that there is “thanda thanda cool cool” between the three allies while Pawar had said that there are “no differences” within the coalition.</p>.Changing political dynamics, rift in Mahayuti set up a tough Budget Session for Fadnavis .<p>The latest of the stand-off was because of Fadnavis turning down 16 recommendations from Shiv Sena and NCP ministers for the post of their secretaries (PSs) and officers on special duty (OSDs) describing them as fixers.</p><p>Shinde had recently said: “Do not take me lightly. I have already said this to those who took me lightly in the past. I am an ordinary party worker, but I am a worker of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe Saheb and so people should keep that in mind. Those who took me lightly saw that I changed the government in 2022 and brought a double engine government that people wanted.”</p><p>On the other hand, Pawar had taken a dig at Shinde saying: "Recently, Shinde used the phrase 'don't take me lightly'. It is still not clear who was the target of those remarks…it is still not clear whether ‘mashaal' (the election symbol of Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray) should not be taken lightly or someone else should not take him lightly.”</p>