Shiv Sena skips cabinet meet, says CM Fadnavis must consult Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: The cold war between BJP and Shiv Sena took a new turn on Wednesday when Sena cabinet members boycotted the weekly cabinet meeting to protest against CM Devendra Fadnavis’s “failure” to consult party president Uddhav Thackeray on the striking farmers’ demand for a complete loan waiver.
Transport minister Diwakar Raote, industries minister Subhash Desai and health minister Deepak Sawant are cabinet members in the BJP-led state government.
The Sena has been at loggerheads with the CM on key issues but it was for the first time that its ministers boycotted the weekly cabinet meeting over the loan waiver.
Raote told TOI that Fadnavis did not consult the Sena even though it had joined the statewide agitation. “We told Fadnavis he must consult Thackeray on the waiver proposal. No doubt we are part of the government, but for the cause of farmers, we have stepped in to demand a complete waiver. We have demanded that before taking any decision on waiver, CM must consult Thackeray. Take note of our sentiments,” Raote said.
Raote pointed out that since Thackeray had taken up the cause of farmers and had been demanding a complete waiver, it would be appropriate for the CM to take a decision after discussions with him. “Fadnavis promised a waiver for small and marginal farmers. The question is what will happen to outstanding liabilities of farmers who have been adversely affected by drought and natural calamities. We told the CM to take a decision after consulting Thackeray. We are keen the CM follows the route he adopted while seeking approval for GST,” Raote said.
Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and public works minister Chandrakant Patil tried to downplay the incident, saying it was not a boycott. “Just before the meeting, they informed the CM that they will not be attending it as they would like to consult Thackeray,” Mungantiwar said.
Mungantiwar however took a dig at the Sena, saying. “The Sena policy is like ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ when they (Sena ministers) sit at cabinet meetings, but when they come out, they behave like ‘Hum Aapke Hai Kaun?' He also raised the issue of ‘giant’ farmers who have 10 tractors outside their bungalows or who have a thousand cows or who run agricultural institutions.
A Sena leader said while farmers were on strike since June 1, Fadnavis did not consult Thackeray or any Sena cabinet member during negotiations but too decisions unilaterally. The leader said four days after the CM’s announcement on loan waiver, the revenue, finance and agriculture departments were yet to complete their homework on the waiver plan.
Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut said in Pune that the party wants Fadnavis to hold talks with all farmers’ leaders, including NCP president Sharad Pawar. Its stand comes as political circles are abuzz with an anti-BJP front taking shape in Maharashtra.
He told TOI, “There is a tradition in Maharashtra where political leaders have led farmers. (Gopinath) Munde led farmers. Sharad Pawar is a farmers’ leader. He had led movements for long. If the CM does not want to talk to the Sena, Shetkari Sanghatana and (these) leaders, whom does he want to talk to?”
Fadnavis had earlier said the government will only talk to “true farmers’ leaders” and not politicians.
Raut said the CM was playing “politics” on the waiver issue. “If BJP wants to take credit, let them take it, but only after complete waiver. The government must not play with the lives of farmers,” said Raut.
Congress leaders are unsure of the Sena’s stand. “Sena leaders have been repeatedly saying they are unhappy with BJP’s policies. But still the party is sticking to power. Instead of walking out of the cabinet, Sena ministers should have opposed the CM in the cabinet meet,” former CM Ashok Chavan told TOI.
With inputs from Radheshyam Jadhav in Pune