As Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar remained absent from the state Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis flew to Delhi urgently by evening after being called by the central leadership of the BJP. Ajit-led NCP and Shinde's Shiv Sena claimed that his absence was because of his sore throat. He did not even attend the meeting of NCP ministers at his official residence by evening citing ill-health and ongoing medical treatment. The speculation over the discontent within the ruling alliance is rife since the meeting between Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit on Saturday night at the CM's official residence where they could not reach on a conclusion over the issues of allotting district guardian ministership to NCP ministers. Both Shinde and Fadnavis who travelled to Delhi on short notice are likely to meet BJP president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Sources in the government hinted that the ongoing disqualification proceedings against Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, and the Supreme Court proceedings, the issue of caste census as well as the upcoming hearing at the Election Commission in relation with the dispute on control over the NCP, were on the agenda. On Tuesday, Ajit-led NCP leaders tried to play down the controversy surrounding guardian ministership. “This is not a serious issue for us at all. Decision in this regard will be taken at the right time,” said Ajit group's state unit president Sunil Tatkare. The opposition, however, did not miss the opportunity to slam the government. While Leader of Opposition in Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar termed Ajit's illness as “political”, Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Supriya Sule taunted that even before the completion of the government's honeymoon, disagreements were spilling out.
