Signs of bickering in MVA
the developments over the past few days suggest the three parties comprising the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are bickering over various issues, insiders claim more differences could crop up over other issues, including nominations to the Council and reshuffle of the bureaucracy.
The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) want the names for 12 members of the Council to be recommended to the Governor at the earliest, while the Sena wants it to be handled cautiously. A tiff is also likely over extension for chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, as only the Sena is in favour of the move.
The state recommends names to the Governor for nominations to the Council as per the Constitutional provision under Article 171. The six-year term of 10 of the 12 Council members appointed from the Governor’s quota in 2014 ended last week, while two others will retire on June 15. The Sena, NCP and Congress are expected to give four names each. The Congress and NCP state chiefs have reportedly approached CM Uddhav Thackeray for a decision on the vacant seats. “We have asked the CM for a coordination meeting to finalise the quota and names . The list should have been sent before the term ended on June 6, but there is no discussion yet,” said a senior Congress leader. The ruling parties feel the Governor may stall the recommendation, similar to the situation when Thackeray’s name was recommended. The leader said the Sena is cautious, as it does not want another tussle with the Governor.
Meanwhile, Mehta’s second extension ends on June 30. Thackeray is reportedly in favour of giving him another term of three months in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The Congress and NCP have opposed the move. “Mehta is also likely to be appointed in a special role in the chief minister’s office,” said an NCP leader.
The leader said they feel the administration is enjoying dominance in decision-making as was seen in the showdown between ministers and bureaucrats in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where NCP leader and food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal slammed Mehta for bringing in a proposal in the cabinet without consulting him.
Even as Thackeray claimed on Wednesday there was no face-off, the Congress held two meetings of its senior leaders over two days. “The Congress is part of the ruling alliance and we have our expectations. We want to have a say in decision-making and will convey our feelings to the CM,” Congress state chief Balasaheb Thorat said.
Political analyst Hemant Desai said there were differences, but it has not reached the stage of bickering. “NCP chief Sharad Pawar was known as a leader with full command over bureaucracy, but in the given scenario, he does not appear to be happy with the way the administration is functioning. The stand-off between ministers and bureaucrats in the cabinet meeting was an indicator that three ruling parties are not on the same page,” he said.