In yet another sign of growing discomfort within the saffron alliance of the BJP and the Shiv Sena, the latter on Monday launched its own independent, party-based telemedicine initiative, despite being a part of the state and central governments.
“Instead of putting all responsibility on the government, we decided to initiate the process by ourselves. We had promised it in the manifesto and have fulfilled it,” said Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.
This is not the first time that Mr. Thackeray has decided to not depend on his own government, currently led by BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. Whether it was the government’s handling of issue of drought in state’s Marathwada region or dealing with the problem of rising farmer suicides, the Sena in the past has criticised the government for not doing enough.
“While the chief minister was busy laying out a red carpet for investors in Davos, farmers here were committing suicide as they had no money to pay the lenders. Such incidents are heart wrenching,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said on Friday.
The Sena has even ordered its ministers to tour Vidarbha and Marathwada, two of the state’s regions which are worst affected due to agrarian crisis. After being sidelined by the BJP, by giving less important portfolios, the Sena ministers have failed to make any impact of their performance in the new government.
The friction between two parties is evident even with issues related to Mumbai. Mr. Thackeray’s son and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray’s proposal of vibrant night-life in Mumbai by permitting roof top restaurants is opposed by the BJP in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The plan to introduce LED lights in Mumbai’s Marine Drive area has received negative response from the Sena.
In yet another possible stand-off between two parties, the Sena is planning to write to the CM to introduce Special Entertainment Zones (SEZ) in Mumbai. According to a senior Sena leader, the party wants the state government to declare all shopping malls and several areas in Mumbai as SEZs.
