Mumbai: Despite Shiv Sena ministers accompanying Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during his interaction with the media on the eve of the Legislative Assembly’s budget session, uneasiness between the parties continues to simmer. While Mr. Fadnavis’s decision to not contest the mayoral election is said to have saved the government — Sena ministers have said they will not resign — it is likely the Sena-BJP standoff will be in evidence during the budget session and will be a test for the BJP.
Minutes after Mr. Fadnavis ended the press conference saying though the State government is in favour of loan waivers to farmers but only when the time is right, Sena ministers said they have asked the Chief Minister to use his connections in New Delhi to seek more money so farmers in the State can emerge from debt.
Mr. Fadnavis said, “The Opposition has been saying the same thing again and again as they are running out of issues. We have clarified on the government’s stand earlier as well. We are in favour of loan waivers, but we want to ensure that farmers are benefited and not the banks. We will do it at the appropriate time and not when the Opposition wants it.”
Talking to reporters, Environment Minister and Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said the party is in favour of making farmers debt-free. “We have been asked by our leader Uddhav ji Thackeray to make certain demands. We have asked the CM to use his connections in Delhi for more funds for farmers.”
While not aligning himself with similar demands being made by the Congress and the NCP, Mr. Kadam said, “If it comes to a debate in the Assembly, we will decide on our political position at that time based on Uddhavji’s orders.”
On Saturday, Mr. Fadnavis said the BJP will not contest the mayoral election and will not sit in Opposition against the Sena. While this move has temporarily defanged the Opposition, the BJP will now have to put up with the Sena’s tantrums during the budget session.
The loan waiver for farmers is likely to be raised aggressively by the Opposition to counter the government. Mr. Fadnavis said the State government has given ₹894 crore in the form of compensation to farmers and ₹4,205 core was paid as compensation for the kharif period. “We expect to discuss issues affecting farmers, rural and urban areas and Mumbai in a positive manner in this session,” he said.
Apart from the loan waiver, the Sena and BJP did not find themselves on the same page on Mr. Fadnavis’s move to appoint a committee comprising three former IAS officers to bring transparency in the BMC’s functioning. “We have asked the CM to not limit the committee to Mumbai, and extend it to all municipal corporations including Nagpur. He has agreed to do it,” senior Sena minister Eknath Shinde said.
The BJP, however, said Mr. Fadnavis’s decision to opt out of the mayor race was planned earlier, and the appointment of a Deputy Lokayukta for Mumbai was made since other cities have designated officers. “There is nothing new in the demands raised by the Sena ministers. The CM had announced it on Saturday,” said BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari.
