Maharashtra Government is Stable Under Shinde's Leadership: Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday said that the state government is stable with support of more than 200 MLAs and the state is doing well under the leadership of Shinde. He also rubbished the claims that he is sulking in the ruling alliance.

Mr. Pawar was talking to reporters in Karad, where he visited the memorial of Yashwantrao Chavan on the occasion of the death anniversary of the first chief minister of Maharashtra. “How can anyone say that a government which has the support of 200 MLAs is unstable?” he asked.

NCP leader Supriya Sule had claimed on Friday that the Shinde government was instable despite having support of more than 200 MLAs and this has brought development to standstill in the state. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray had also said that the Shinde government’s days are numbered and it will not be there after December 31.

“CM Shinde is giving priority to development works. The ‘Mahayuti’ government is doing good work under his leadership,” Mr. Pawar said.

Denying that he is unhappy in the government, Mr. Pawar said that he had to rest for 15 days because of dengue. “Some people claimed that I had a political illness, but it is not true. Some even alleged that I met Union home minister Amit Shah to complain. But, I am not the one to complain,” he said.

Mr. Pawar said that the government will soon hold a meeting of district collectors to discuss a drought-like situation in the state. The CM will preside over it and both DCMs will attend it.

The NCP leader indicated that the ‘Mahayuti’ (grand alliance) of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) will hold seat sharing talks after the results of five state Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana. “There are assembly elections underway in some states. Hence, no talks have been held so far about the elections in Maharashtra,” he said.