Maharashtra: Five Shiv Sena Corporators join NCP as turbulence hits MVA

In ar jolt to tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, five Shiv Sena Corporators from Parner Nagar Panchayat in Ahmednagar joined Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati on Saturday. Dr. Mudassir Sayyad, Nandkumar Deshmukh, Kishan Gandhade, Vaishali Auti and Nanda Deshmane have joined  NCP.

CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar's NCP and Congress run coalition government in Maharashtra since December last year.

A senior NCP Minister in Maharashtra Cabinet told ANI, "This development has come due to local equations of Parner and Ahmednagar. It won't have any impact on MVA at state level."

As per reports, NCP MLA Nilesh Lanke, who was present when corporators made switch, said that five members were also reportedly in talks with BJP. However, senior leadership of NCP was of opinion that Shiv Sena members joining BJP might hurt ruling MVA coalition at state, hence it was NCP which approached five aforementioned members and offered alternative to Sena.

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This comes as deepening rift between Maha Vikas Aghadi became evident after CM Thackeray revoked a transfer order issued by Mumbai police, according to sources. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh says that Mumbai Commissioner had reportedly issued transfer orders of 10 Mumbai Police DCPs on Friday, without consulting Thackeray or himself.

Allies miffed with Thackeray

Several ministers from NCP and Congress have accused Uddhav Thackeray of depending more on bureaucrats than his alliance partners, alleging that y were being 'sidelined'. Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat, minister Ashok Chavan have openly stated that party has had say in any of decision being taken by Thackeray-government. All three allies have maintained that alliance is safe.

re has been discontent among Sena-NCP-Congress govt since cabinet expansion in January. re has a feeling in Sena camp that NCP has walked away with t only highest number of portfolios but also most important ones as Sena, for example, had to cede Home and Finance portfolio. Apart from this, Congress and Sena have been at loggerheads since formation of alliance over issues like Hindutva, CAA, NRC, Ram Janmabhoomi, Savarkar, COVID-19 etc, with NCP playing peacemaker.

(With ANI inputs)

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