CHIEF MINISTER Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday night travelled to New Delhi and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in Delhi to discuss several issues related to the state. While Shinde, who was in Pune to inaugurate several infrastructure projects, left for Delhi from there, Fadnavis left for Delhi from Nagpur on Sunday evening. "We keep coming to Delhi. There are several issues of the state to be discussed – be it development projects, issue of Marathwada water grid project, Konkan's water issue and farmers distress," Shinde said. While the two parties have not revealed the exact agenda behind Shinde and Fadnavis's meeting with the central BJP leadership, the visit comes ahead of the completion of one year of Shinde-Fadnavis led government in the state. Speculations are rife that the leaders will likely discuss the long due cabinet expansion in the state, as well as Shinde-led Sena's demand for a ministerial berth in the Union government. The two leaders are also likely to discuss the seat-sharing formula between Shinde-led Sena and BJP for the civic body and Lok Sabha polls. The Shinde–led Sena had recently staked claim over 22 of 48 LS seats in Maharashtra, which the undivided Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena had contested, of which it had won 18 seats in 2019 general elections. Interestingly, the visit comes two days after Fadnavis had announced during the 350th coronation ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj on Friday, that state government would urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build a national monument for Shivaji Maharaj in New Delhi. "Shinde and I will personally meet the PM to express this desire of citizens of the state,” Fadnavis had said. A monument of world-class stature to depict the life and work of Shivaji Maharaj will inspire generations to come, he added. "Several issues of the state including industrial and development related projects will be discussed with Amit Shah. A discussion also be held on the state cabinet expansion at the meet," a source said.
