CM Eknath Shinde meets PM, informs him of Raigad landslide, other state issues

The Maharashtra CM had come with his wife, father, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.

The meeting comes amid a reported unease in the Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s alliance with BJP in the state after the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction joined the ruling alliance. Ever since the Ajit faction joined the government, there have been talks in Maharashtra political circle that the NCP leader was promised the CM position and that Shinde’s position was in danger, which the Shinde Sena has rejected as speculation.

Interacting with the media after meeting Modi, Shinde said he apprised the PM of several issues related to the state — the heavy showers, the landslide in Raigad district (which has claimed at least 26 lives and 80 people are reported missing), and the Dharavi redevelopment project, among others.

“It was a courtesy meeting,” he said afterward. “I apprised Modi-ji of ongoing development and redevelopment projects in the state, and also informed him about rain-related incidents, including the landslide incident in Irshalwadi.”

He said the PM was also informed about issues faced by farmers in the state.

Later in the day, Shinde, along with family members, paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him about the situation in the state.

This is Shinde’s second visit to Delhi. On July 18, he went to the national capital to attend the meeting of the NDA constituents, chaired by the Prime Minister.

Shinde said it was an honour for him to have been given an opportunity to move the resolution that was adopted by the NDA in that meeting.

On meeting Shah, Shrikant Shinde, a Lok Sabha MP and the Chief Minister’s son, said, “Amit-bhai took time out from his busy schedule to interact with us…. He was presented with a replica of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s equestrian statue. A positive discussion took place between the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister, in which several issues of Maharashtra were taken up.”

Shiv Sena UBT leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray slammed Shinde over Delhi visits “again and again”. He said: “What is the reason behind it (these visits)? Is there going to be change in the leadership of current dispensation in the state? He is visiting Delhi every week and there is no one to look after people in the state.”