Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Saturday insisted that the party must get the crucial home department in the new Maharashtra government and claimed attempts were being made to sideline caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Talking to PTI, Shirsat said considering Shinde's positive image and the schemes he rolled out, he would have contributed more if he had gotten two and half years more as the CM.
"The home department should be with the party (Shiv Sena). The department is (usually) with the deputy chief minister. It would not be right if the chief minister heads the home department," said the MLA who represents the Aurangabad West assembly seat.
Devendra Fadnavis holds the home portfolio in the outgoing government.
Shirsat's remarks reveal cracks among Mahayuti allies, who have collectively emerged as absolute winners of the recently conducted Maharashtra state polls, which saw winning 230 out of 288 assembly seats.
BJP won 132 seats, followed by its allies Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41).
Shinde, who is now the caretaker chief minister, has said he will "fully support" the BJP leadership's decision to name the next chief minister and would not be a hurdle.
Party sources said Shinde, who had gone to his native Dare village in Satara, is upset. The party has demanded the home department in the deliberations regarding government formation.
The BJP is claiming the chief minister's position based on its numbers, they said, and did displace the Shiv Sena.
"The BJP has certainly reaped benefits by making Shinde the face of the Mahayuti government. BJP or NCP were not involved (in placating) the agitators for Maratha quota. It was Shinde who decided to take it upon himself. He also gave the Maratha reservation, so the support increased manifold," said Shirsat.
Shirsat further said that although these welfare schemes were in practice earlier, Shinde brought a sort of revival to them.
Ajit Pawar of the NCP had opposed Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme for ladies, but the government, in its wisdom, was able to implement it. What happened was seen in the elections.
Shinde's "common man" image as chief minister was more acceptable to people, and despite words like "gaddar" (traitor) used for him, he has established himself firmly after the state polls, said the Shiv Sena leader.
"This has benefited the entire Mahayuti. He was the one who took out maximum rallies. Looking at this, had he got two and half years, he would have contributed more to the state," he said.
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