Two days after he skipped a review meeting of the Nashik Metropoliton Region Development Authority chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the backdrop of the Kumbh Mela in 2027, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Nashik on Friday and held a separate review meeting for the Kumbh Mela, triggering speculations of a rift between the ruling alliance partners. Shinde, however, claimed he held the review meeting because he was in Nashik for a party rally. He said there was no rift in the alliance. He also said the issue of guardian minister’s post of Nashik and Raigad would be resolved soon. A few days ago, Fadnavis had convened a review meeting of the Nashik Metropoliton Region Development Authority at Sahyadri guesthouse in Mumbai for the Kumbh Mela. Shinde was invited to the meeting. Shinde, however, did not attend the meeting. Earlier, when minister Girish Mahajan had called a meeting in Nashik, Shinde-led Sena minister Dada Bhuse, who is keen on the Nashik guardian minister’s post, had skipped the meeting. A tussle is on within the ruling alliance, especially Bhuse and Mahajan, over the guardian minister’s post of Nashik, which is being claimed by both the Sena and BJP. The post is crucial as the Kumbh Mela would be held in Nashik in 2027. To a question from mediapersons, Mahajan said he was invited to the meeting called by Shinde. However, he had some prior commitments and hence could not attend it. “The chief minister also held a meeting in this regard but I could not attend it either. The Kumbh Mela is the collective responsibility of everyone in the government. Therefore, what is wrong if Shinde held a meeting in this regard? Dada Bhuse also held a detailed meeting regarding the Kumbh Mela. I was not invited. I did not say why I was not invited. The Kumbh Mela is going to be held on a large scale this time, so it is responsibility of all of us to hold meetings and get updates about the preparations from officials,” Mahajan said, stressing that there are no differences between the ruling alliance parties or leaders.
