Shiv Sena asks NCP to return its 5 corporators who jumped ship, amid cracks in MVA

Hinting at yet ar fissure between Maha Vikas Aghadi partners, Shiv Sena has asked NCP to return its five Corporators from Parner that have joined Sharad Pawar-led party, sources said. As per sources, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made a close aide Milind Narvekar call Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar and y discussed matter reafter. Shiv Sena reportedly has raised concern over such poaching with three parties being in ruling alliance.

Five Shiv Sena Corporators from Parner Nagar Panchayat in Ahmednagar joined NCP in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati on Saturday. y are Dr. Mudassir Sayyad, Nandkumar Deshmukh, Kishan Gandhade, Vaishali Auti and Nanda Deshmane. 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."

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Rift in Maha Vikas Aghadi

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut interviewed NCP supremo Sharad Pawar for party mouthpiece Saamana on Monday. According to Raut, Pawar spoke frankly about a number of issues ranging from China faceoff to political developments in Maharashtra. He added that this interview was conducted in fiery 'Saamana' style. Sena MP revealed that this interview would be broadcast and published very soon. 

READ | Amid growing fissures within MVA, Sena MP Sanjay Raut interviews NCP supremo Sharad Pawar

Amid ongoing Coronavirus crisis, deepening rift between Maha Vikas Aghadi became evident after CM Uddhav Thackeray revoked a transfer order issued by Mumbai police, according to sources. Earlier on Friday, Pawar met with CM Uddhav at Balasaheb Thackeray memorial, amid rising complaints of NCP and Congress leaders about t being aware of Uddhav Thackeray-led government's decision to extend lockdown till July 31. Reports state that Pawar advised Thackeray to reconsider ‘2-km rule’ in Mumbai and to keep allies in loop while taking such decisions. 

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.

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