Sharad Pawar dismisses talk of rift in MVA, dubs CM Uddhav's performance as 'satisfactory'

Addressing media in Pune on Tuesday, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar dismissed speculations of a rift in Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. This comes a day after he met Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray at latter's Matoshree residence where issues such as differences over transfer of IPS officers and induction of Shiv Sena corporators in NCP were reportedly discussed. Pawar maintained that his discussion with Thackeray pertained to pressing issues of state.

Commenting on criticism levelled against Thackeray by BJP, Pawar reckoned that this was expected from opposition. Describing Maharashtra CM's work as "satisfactory", he conceded that all or work in state had to be stopped after COVID-19 crisis emerged as a priority. NCP supremo also mentioned that state Cabinet holds meetings for 14-15 hours a day regarding vel coronavirus crisis. 

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Sharad Pawar remarked, "I read reports that re is uneasiness and resentment in alliance. re is uneasiness. re is resentment. My conversation with Chief Minister takes place regarding pressing issues of state. re is or reason."

Reacting to BJP's criticism of Thackeray, he said, "It is job of opposition to criticise. work that we are witnessing is satisfactory. But is true that priorities of government changed after advent of COVID-19 crisis. All or works had to be stopped and he had to focus only on coronavirus. I am witnessing that CM and his Cabinet colleagues hold meetings for 14-15 hours a day regarding COVID-19 crisis. And it is necessary. I feel that such criticism is t warranted at this juncture."

Read: Doctor's Prescription Won't Be Required For Covid Test In Mumbai; BMC Gives Testing Boost

Fissures emerge in MVA

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi set rumour mills abuzz on May 26 after trying to distance his party from Maharashtra government's handling of COVID-19 crisis. Maintaining that re was a difference between running and supporting a government, he observed that Congress party was t key decision-maker in Maharashtra. rift escalated in June after senior Congress leaders including Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat publicly admitted that re were certain differences with functioning of government.

y demanded that Congress should get a bigger stake in decision-making process and conveyed ir grievances to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. Recently, many Congress and NCP Ministers were allegedly t consulted before Thackeray anunced extension of  lockdown till July 31. Subsequently, Sharad Pawar met Thackeray on July 3 and advised him to keep alliance partners in loop while taking major decisions. He also reportedly expressed his disagreement on harsh lockdown restrictions imposed in some places. 

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