NCP MP hosts lunch for Amit Shah amid MahaYuti slugfest over guardian ministers

The luncheon meeting assumed significance in view of the differences among the Mahayuti allies over the appointment of guardian ministers of Raigad and Nashik districts. However, Tatkare asserted that there was no political agenda.

Mumbai: Nearly four months after the new MahaYuti–NDA dispensation retained power in Maharashtra by an unprecedented majority, Union Home Minister and BJP’s troubleshooter Amit Shah sat down with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, over lunch — a development that is being seen as a step to iron out differences.

Shah, the close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived in Pune on Friday night.

On Saturday, Shah, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister, had two official engagements — a visit to Raigad Fort in Raigad district to pay tributes to iconic Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his death anniversary, and the 75th anniversary celebrations of Gujarati weekly Chitralekha in Mumbai.

One of the crucial aspects of the visit was the informal luncheon meeting at the residence of state NCP president and Raigad MP Sunil Tatkare, who is a close aide of Pawar, the NCP national president and Deputy Chief Minister.

In fact, the post of the Raigad minister is a contentious issue between the Shiv Sena and NCP.

When the guardian ministries were announced, Fadnavis allocated the Raigad district to State Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, the daughter of Tatkare. However, State Employment Guarantee Minister Bharat Gogawale, who is a close aide of Shinde, the Shiv Sena chief leader and Deputy Chief Minister, too was keen for the post. Fadnavis had to hold the decision.

A similar situation was witnessed in Nashik, where BJP’s troubleshooter Girish Mahajan, who is the Disaster Management Minister, was handed over Nashik; however, Shinde aide and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse too is keen.

The meeting at this juncture among the leadership of three parties informally is significant, as in the past it has been seen that the three parties were not on the same page.

Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi slammed the government for internal contradictions and confusion.

“There will be political discussions, as the three parties are coming together... There isn't much political talk to discuss. The current discussions revolve around the ongoing internal fights related to files, departments, and departmental funds,” Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said: “The goat is ready to be butchered… just wait for three to four days.” However, he did not elaborate.