Fadnavis meets BJP chief JP Nadda in Delhi as crisis for Uddhav camp deepens
Fadnavis had served as the chief minister twice. While he was able to complete his five-year tenure from 2014 to 2019 for the first time; his second term - in alliance with the NCP faction headed by Ajit Pawar - lasted only for 80 hours as he failed to ensure the support of adequate MLAs.
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda at his residence in Delhi amid the intensifying crisis for the Uddhav Thackeray led-Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the western state. Fadnavis is believed to have briefed Nadda about the unfolding political developments in the western state.
The meeting between Fadnavis and Nadda comes amid a warning from Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut against the BJP leadership getting involved in the crisis unfolding in Maharashtra. "If they do, then their party (BJP), Fadnavis and PM Modi's names will be tarnished," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
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A day ago the party’s core committee held a meeting at the official residence of Fadnavis in Mumbai, which was attended by a number of senior party leaders. Later, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar was quoted as saying by PTI that the party will keep holding meetings in the coming few days. “As of now, the party is in ‘wait-and-watch’ mode,” he added.
The latest crisis for the Thackeray’s coalition government was triggered by a rebellion of disgruntled Sena leader Eknath Shinde who first moved with a couple of MLAs from Maharashtra to Surat in Gujarat and has been camping for the last few days in Guwahati, Assam – both BJP-ruled states.
Fadnavis had served as the chief minister of Maharashtra twice. While he was able to complete his five-year tenure from 2014 to 2019 for the first time; his second term - in alliance with the NCP faction headed by Ajit Pawar - lasted only for 80 hours as he failed to ensure the support of adequate MLAs.
Meanwhile, a BJP leader has told HT that the party has already offered rebel leader Eknath Shinde the post of deputy chief minister. Shinde, who is currently camping at a hotel in Guwahati, said earlier in the day that he has the support of 50 MLAs and will soon return to Mumbai.