In Maharashtra: Vinayak Mete disappointed with ally BJP, floats new party

Mumbai city news: The new outfit, he said, will be a strong alternative force in state politics. Mete has roped in former Shiv Sena central minister Subodh Mohite as its state president.

Disappointed with the state government’s decision of not offering him a minister’s portfolio, BJP ally Vinayak Mete has floated a new party, Bhartiya Sangram Parishad, on Monday.

Vinayak Mete. (HT)

The new outfit, he said, will be a strong alternative force in state politics. Mete has roped in former Shiv Sena central minister Subodh Mohite as its state president.

“Every party has a right to grow and we are only working towards that. We feel that there is vacuum in state politics and our party will fill the space,” said Mete.“The BJP went back on its commitment over sharing power with us and this has really hurt us.”

The BJP had made Mete the Chairman of the Shivaji Memorial Committee but denied him a ministerial berth. Mete is angry as all the other allies---Republican Party of India (RPI), Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha were given ministerial berths except him.

Mete, a prominent Maratha leader, was wooed by the BJP during the 2014 elections from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Mete heads the Shiv Sangram, an outfit that fights for the Maratha community’s interests. Shiv Sangram was active on the issue of Maratha reservation and construction of the Shivaji Memorial.

According to Mohite, he was not given a chance to perform in the Congress. “The Congress never gave me chance to prove myself. I have held several meetings with the Congress high command but nothing fruitful came off it,” said Mohite. “Since the BJP-Sena are busy fighting each other and the Congress-NCP are nowhere in picture, it is a good opportunity for our party to serve as an alternative,” he added.