'No race for credit among Maha Yuti parties', says BJP over Pahalgam rescue operations by Maharashtra govt

So far, more than 500 stranded tourists from Maharashtra have been brought to Mumbai by special flights besides the mortal remains of those who died and survivors of the terror attack.

Mumbai: The internal politics of the Maha Yuti-NDA dispensation in Maharashtra came to the fore in the wake of the terrorist attack on tourists in the Pahalgam with leaders of the BJP and Shiv Sena leaders in race for credit.

So far, more than 500 stranded tourists from Maharashtra have been brought to Mumbai by special flights besides the dead bodies and survivors of the terror attack.

While Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis deputed state Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan in Srinagar to coordinate the efforts to bring back tourists from the state, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde too air-dashed to Jammu & Kashmir.

To receive them at the Mumbai airport, Fadnavis had deployed two Cabinet ministers - Ashish Shelar and Mangalprabhat Lodha while Minister of State Madhuri Misal was stationed in the Pune airport.

On the other hand, Shinde deployed two Cabinet ministers Dada Bhuse and Gulabrao Patil, and Minister of State Yogesh Kadam at the Mumbai airport, Cabinet Minister Prakash Abitkar was present in the Pune airport.

Meanwhile, state BJP President and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule denied any such thing.

“There is no rift or discord in the government…there is no politics or race for credit,” Bawankule said.

The Shiv Sena on the other hand launched a scathing attack on former CM Uddhav Thackeray for the Shiv Sena (UBT) skipping the all-party meeting.

“In contrast, Shinde rushed to assist stranded Marathi tourists in Kashmir, while certain leaders who claim to be protectors of Marathi people chose to embark on a family holiday in Europe,” Shiv Sena deputy leader and former MP Sanjay Nirupam said.

“Wildlife photography, sightseeing, and enjoying foreign cuisine appear to be more important to him than standing by the grieving families of Maharashtra,” he added.

Responding to criticism over Shinde’s visit to Srinagar, Nirupam defended the deputy CM’s move. “He went there to offer support, reassure tourists and their families, and help coordinate safe returns. Those questioning his intentions are exposing their own shallow mindset,” he said.