Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra denied speculations about a rift within ruling Mahayuti alliance saying ‘There is no Cold War among ruling allies’.
Devendra Fadnavis told a press conference following the Cabinet meeting that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and himself ‘successfully fought the Opposition and got a landslide victory in the Assembly.’
Taking on the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, which boycotted the customary tea meeting before the budget session, he said ‘There is tension and resentment among the opposition itself’.
‘Today we had invited the opposition for 'Chahapan' (tea meeting) but they boycotted it. They held a meeting in which none of their big leaders came. They have given us a 9-page letter in which there are names of nine people, there are signatures of seven people and in that letter, they have raised issues which they have only taken from the press,’ Fadnavis was quoted as saying.
Reports over the last week claimed that a potential rift is threatening the ruling alliance with Eknath Shinde still grumbling about the loss of top post in order to make way for Devendra Fadnavis.
Adding to the situation, the Y Category security for 55 lawmakers from Mr Shinde's Shiv Sena faction, have been scaled down further fueling the speculations about the rift.
Despite the government explained that the decision had to do with the re-evaluation of security threat, the Sena chief reportedly remains unconvinced.
While the ruling alliance denied any issues, the Opposition MVA camp is apparently is happy about the development following their humiliating failure in the assembly election held last year.
Right from the begging the alliance found itself in trouble over choosing the Chief Minister with Shinde reportedly staking claim for continuing in the post.
After close to two weeks of negotiations, Shinde accepted the post of Deputy CM with Fadnavis leading the government.