PM meets sulking Thackeray

When asked if the Prime Minister gave any specific assurance on the allocation of portfolios or more powers, the Sena leader declined to comment. “We expect a positive response from the Prime Minister,” he said, adding, the two leaders also discussed current political situation in Maharashtra.

While Thackeray evaded press, Information and Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan said he was not aware of the discussions. “It was a closed door meeting. I am not aware of Thackeray’s agenda. I only heard Thackeray saying, Hamare pas Mamata (affection) hain, Banerjee nahin,” Mahajan said.

A fortnight ago, Thackeray had expressed displeasure that the Shiv Sena was ignored in the process of decision- making. His grudge was that in the appointments of governors and nominations to the Rajya Sabha, the Shiv Sena was not consulted either by the Prime Minister or his party.

Thackeray had protested over allocation of insignificant portfolios to Sena cabinet members Manohar Joshi, Suresh Prabhu and Balasaheb Vikhe Patil. While the Sena had demanded Information and Broadcasting, Civil Aviation, Telecommunications and Railways, it was allocated Heavy Industries, Fertilisers, Chemicals and Finance (Minister of State). It was also shocked over the allocation of the disinvestment portfolio, held by Manohar Joshi, to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley.

Alarmed by the discontent in the Sena, Union Home Minister L.K. Advani had a brief meeting with Thackeray on Friday. In that meeting also, the issue of allocation of dead portfolios was discussed. But then, Advani had declined to give any specific assurance to Thackeray saying that allocation of portfolios was the PM’s prerogative. It was decided that Sena cabinet members Manohar Joshi, Suresh Prabhu and Balasaheb Vikhe Patil will call on the Prime Minister to resolve the dispute.

According to a senior BJP leader, since Thackeray was pacified following his meeting with Advani, Atal Behari Vajpayee agreed to meet him. “We feel all the issues raised by Thackeray will be settled amicably within a week,” the BJP leader said.