Maharashtra CM asks Centre to rename Aurangabad airport after Sambhaji amid Cong unease

Amid Congress' war of words with Sena, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday urged Centre to rename Aurangabad airport after Chhatrapati Sambhaji. renaming of Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar has been Shiv Sena's longstanding demand. In a letter addressed to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, he requested issuance of a tification renaming airport to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport at earliest. 

According to Thackeray, Maharashtra Cabinet has taken a decision in this regard. Moreover, he highlighted that a resolution on renaming of Aurangabad airport was unanimously approved by both Houses of state legislature during Budget session in 2020. Shiv Sena supremo also revealed that Chief Secretary has already communicated with Civil Aviation Ministry regarding renaming of airport. 

Read: SP Taunts MVA Govt Over Aurangabad Name Change Politics, Dares It To Rename Maharashtra

Congress vows to oppose proposal

On December 31, 2020, Maharashtra Congress president and state Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat anunced that his party will oppose any proposal to rename Aurangabad. He maintained that this issue does t find a mention in MVA's Common Minimum Programme. In a veiled dig at Sena, Thorat added that life of common person cant be improved by changing names of cities.

Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat remarked, "This is t included in Common Minimum Programme. Congress does t believe in changing names but focusing on development. development of common person cant take place by changing names. nda of Maha Vikas Aghadi is to empower common person and make him happy. If such a proposal comes up, we will oppose it."

Read: After Palghar, Attack On Sadhu In Maharashtra’s Aurangabad After Heated Argument

'Drama company' 

Reacting to CM's letter, his predecessor Devendra Fadnavis opined that Centre will take a decision on officially changing airport's name at an appropriate time. However, he dubbed current faceoff between Shiv Sena and Congress over renaming of Aurangabad as a civic polls-induced drama. Speaking to media, he alleged that this was an attempt to distract people's attention from Aurangabad Municipal Corporation's alleged failure to address people's problems. While election to AMC was due in 2020, it was delayed owing to COVID-19 crisis.

Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis commented, " Centre will take a decision at an appropriate time. re is problem. But why are such proposals put forth just before election? Municipal Corporation is inactive and you (Sena) have t been able to resolve any problems of people. y are bringing up news as y cant face people. y want polls to be based on such issues and moreover, have a 'fixed match' whereby one party says do this and or opposes it. I reiterate what I said yesterday- this is a drama company."

Read: Renaming Row: Aurangabad Was Also Called Khadki, Fatehnagar