Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray appoints Shiv Sena ministers as coordinators in districts with NCP, Congress guardian ministers

A day after Shiv Sena district chiefs complained to Sena chief and Maharashtra chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray of not being taken into confidence for development

A day after Shiv Sena district chiefs complained to Sena chief and Maharashtra chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray of not being taken into confidence for development at the local level by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress guardian ministers, the party has appointed its ministers as sampark mantris or coordinators where there are NCP Congress guardian ministers.

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The CM held a meeting with party’s district chiefs on Monday night where the leaders of some districts in western Maharashtra and Marathwada complained of being overlooked. Subsequently, the party has appointed 12 ministers as coordinators for 22 districts where the guardian ministership is with either Congress or NCP.

This is an informal arrangement for the party where district leaders will coordinate with the Sena ministers for a grant or development-related matters, a party functionary said.

“There is no harm in doing the work in their traditional bases and expanding the party presence there, but since we are in a coalition government, they cannot overlook us. We have pointed out how public welfare work or proposals we take to the guardian minister is put on the back-burner or avoided,” said a district president from western Maharashtra, who did not wish to be named. Another district chief from Marathwada region said that this was the second time district leaders have complained to Sena boss on its workers being ignored.