Fadnavis, however, said it was not desirable to see Sena leaders making repeated statements against their alliance partners. (Express Archives)
A war of words has erupted between the ruling Mahayuti alliance partnersin Maharashtra ahead of the Assembly polls, as leaders from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena levelled allegations against Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Ravindra Chavan of the BJP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state president Sunil Tatkare.
Sena leader from Ratnagiri and former Maharashtra minister Ramdas Kadam on Monday criticised Chavan over the condition of the Mumbai-Goa highway and demanded that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seek his resignation. Fadnavis, however, said it was not desirable to see Sena leaders making repeated statements against their alliance partners.
Kadam said, “Chavan is trying to break the alliance and is an ineffective minister. He does show off and is not doing the work he is expected to do as PWD Minister. He is not doing anything except only doing the inspection. Construction of bridges and roads on the Mumbai-Goa highway has stopped. The roads are pothole-ridden. The plight of people from Konkan has not ended, and they ask us what we are doing in the government.”
He said that even after 14 years, the apathy towards the Mumbai-Goa highway continues. “Even Lord Rama’s exile was over in 14 years, but the exile of the Konkani people is not over. Now, the chief minister and deputy chief minister should pay attention to this, and Ravindra Chavan should resign,” Kadam added.
“We had discussed the work of the Mumbai-Goa highway with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The PWD minister (Chavan) announced in December that the Mumbai-Goa road would be completed by the next Ganpati festival. However, the condition of this road is deplorable. Our Lord Ganesha cannot travel properly from Pen to Konkan,” he said.
The criticism did not go well with Chavan, who slammed Kadam and called him an “illiterate man”. He said the issues of national highways come under Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. He asked what Kadam had done for Konkan despite being a minister himself for 15 years part of Shiv Sena for the past 30 years.
“I can also speak in the same language he is speaking. I dare him to come face to face on the road and speak. Then you will see in what language I can speak. No one will be there to save you (Kadam) from me. Remember, It is Ravi Chavan. I will give you a befitting reply. Following the alliance does not mean anyone will say anything, and I will keep listening. Watch your mouth and speak, or else I can break that mouth.”
Wading into the debate, Fadnavis said Kadam should not make such statements. If there are disputes, they should be discussed internally instead of making allegations, he said.
“Repeatedly making such statements against the BJP and its leaders is not good. This way, we also get hurt. I feel that senior leaders should maintain decorum. We can also give a reply. I will surely now speak to Shinde ji about this issue,” Fadnavis said.
Meanwhile, another Sena leader, Mahendra Thorve, alleged that NCP leader Takare is a “traitor” and said it is unfortunate that he represents the Karjat Assembly constituency.
Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With more than nine years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness.
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Current Role: Senior Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai bureau.
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