Rahul calls up Uddhav, assures Cong support

A day after creating a flutter with his statement about the Maharashtra government, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday spoke with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to clear the air of uncertainty. While assuring that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state had the complete support of his party, he said that his statement had been taken out of context.

Mr Thackeray also assured him that the Congress will be given equal importance in the functioning as well as in decision-making of the government, sources said.

On Tuesday, amidst reports of President’s rule being imposed in Maharashtra owing to the rising number of coronavirus cases, Mr Gandhi, while speaking with journalists, had said that the Congress is not a key decision-maker in Maharashtra, but is only supporting the state government.

Mr Gandhi’s statement had led to speculation that he was not happy with the functioning of the Uddhav Thackerayled

◗ Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray assured Rahul Gandhi that the Congress will be given equal importance in the functioning as well as in decisionmaking of the govt

government.

“Explaining his stand behind the statement, Mr Gandhi (in his call to Mr Thackeray) said what he meant was that Maharashtra is one of the most important states in the country and should be given due importance in the fight against coronavirus. The Congress fully supports every decision of the MVA government,” said a Sena leader.

The MVA ruling alliance consists of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress.

Meanwhile, the three parties of the MVA held a meeting at the chief minister’s official residence “Varsha” to take stock of the situation in Maharashtra. Surprisingly, the chief minister did not attend the meeting.