Uddhav Thackeray, CM of Maharashtra meets alliance partners amid rift reports.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar holds separate meetings with CM Thackeray and Governor; speculation rises on cracks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting with members of his coalition government at Varsha bungalow today. Recently reports emerged in the media that speculated cracks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. 

The speculation started after separate meetings with CM Thackeray and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari were held by NCP chief Sharad Pawar. A cabinet minister, however, dismissed such rumours and revealed that the meeting taking place in Varsha Bungalow is not a crisis meeting but a regular meeting, which the CM has been holding since the lockdown. 

Shiv Sena leader has defended the alliance and said, “The Maha Vikas Aghadi Government will complete the five-year term and after five years we will fight the elections together.”  

There are some cracks though, as Sharad Pawar believes in relaxing some restrictions to restore some normalcy in Mumbai and the state whereas Uddhav Thackeray is keen on retaining the restrictions so as to contain Coronavirus. The third member, Congress, has distanced itself from the COVID-19 situation, by claiming that the party is not a key decision-maker in Maharashtra. Both the alliance members have raised concerns on Thackeray’s handling of the pandemic in the state. 

Devendra Fadnavis, former Maharashtra CM and current Leader of Opposition has stated to the media that this coalition government “will fall of its own burden”, and that BJP isn’t interested in pulling down the government in this Coronavirus crisis. BJP leader Narayan Rane had earlier met the Governor to seek President’s rule in the state. BJP has planned to intensify their appeal for President’s Rule as the party believes that the coalition government has categorically failed to contain the COVID-19 situation.