CM Shinde, Deputy CM travel out of Mumbai, no cabinet meet this week

Shinde left for Dare on Monday and will return to Mumbai on Wednesday night. The Opposition slammed Shinde for holidaying at a time when police action was being taken against locals in Barsu-Solgaon in Ratnagiri district for opposing the upcoming oil refinery project.

“At a time when people are getting beaten, the CM is enjoying a holiday,” said Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP of Shiv Sena (UBT). Naresh Mhaske, Shiv Sena spokesperson said Shinde was on an official tour and he is working even from his native village.

The timing of Shinde’s departure from Mumbai has however raised eyebrows in political circles as it coincides with speculations of him being replaced by another BJP leader. While both Sena and BJP have ridiculed such reports, talks about Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar joining hands with the BJP are still doing the rounds.

Fadnavis will be campaigning in Karnataka for next two days and then will go to Nagpur. He will later visit Mauritius where he is to unveil a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Due to his pre-planned programme, the send off ceremony of outgoing state Chief Secretary Manu Kumar Shrivastava was also held a day ago in the presence of Shinde and Fadnavis.