Advertisements by ruling coalition in Maharashtra signal at in-fights in Shinde administration

Mumbai: An advertisement by ruling alliance of Maharashtra appeared in Marathi dailies has given way to speculations of smouldering issues in the ruling camp.

The one featuring Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appeared on Wednesday following another one the day before with photos of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Full-page advertisements were carried across major newspapers in the state on Tuesday, citing a survey that showed Chief Minister Shinde ahead of his deputy Mr Fadnavis in popularity. It did not have the pictures of either Mr Fadnavis or Bal Thackeray.

The publicity material titled ‘Modi for India, Mr Shinde for Maharashtra' on Tuesday prompted the Opposition to claim that all was not well between the ruling BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Like Tuesday's advertisement, the ad in Marathi newspapers also cites a survey to claim that 49.3 per cent of voters in Maharashtra support the BJP and Shiv Sena.

It says 84 per cent of voters feel PM Modi's leadership has given a vision of development to the country and 62 per cent feel the “double engine” governments are expediting development in the state.

As per the ad, the survey found that 26.8 per cent of voters back the main opposition, while other parties have the support of 23.9 per cent of voters.

Apart from Mr Shinde's mentor Anand Dighe, Mr Fadnavis and Bal Thackeray, the new ad also carries pictures of many Shiv Sena ministers.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the fresh advertisement was the result of an earful from Fadnavis. He said, “It has become clear what is in their mind. But everything is not good. The government will collapse like a house of cards. There is a proxy war between Shinde and BJP.” NCP's national working president and MP Supriya Sule wondered who conducted the survey and what the sample size was.

“I am in search of that well-wisher who gave advertisements worth crores of rupees in newspapers. I think today's design came from Delhi and that possibility cannot be ruled out,” she told reporters in Pune.

Asked what could have prompted the new advertisement on Wednesday, Ms Sule quipped, “An invisible hand from Delhi.” Her party colleague and NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase called the new ad a revised version of what appeared on Tuesday. “People of Maharashtra would be curious to know how ‘sweet' are the relations between the BJP and Shinde-led Sena,” she said.

Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said the BJP and Mr Shinde-led Sena should call for the elections immediately if they are so confident of enjoying public support.

“The ruling side claimed that the ad was placed by a well-wisher. We would like to know who is that well-wisher with so much money,” he said, referring to Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai's claim that the advertisement on Tuesday was probably given by a well-wisher of their party.

Mr Pawar said most of the Sena ministers featuring in Wednesday's ad are controversial figures.

PTI with superficial edits