A surprise meeting by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has triggered intense speculations in state politics. Such was the speculation that Fadnavis was forced to issue a clarification.
This was after a photo of Fadnavis, also a senior BJP leader in Maharashtra, meeting Pawar went viral on social media. The former Maharashtra CM wasted no time issuing a clarification as he took to Twitter to write, “Met Former Union Minister and senior leader Sharad Pawar-ji at his residence in Mumbai this morning. This was courtesy meeting.”
Fadnavis also repeated the message in Marathi.
Met Former Union Minister & Senior leader Shri Sharad Pawar ji at his residence in Mumbai this morning. This was courtesy meeting.
माजी केंद्रीय मंत्री आणि ज्येष्ठ नेते श्री शरद पवारजी यांची आज त्यांच्या मुंबई येथील निवासस्थानी सदिच्छा भेट घेतली. pic.twitter.com/eqjabCHMh7— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 31, 2021
However, this did not stop netizens from indulging in speculations with some BJP supporters expressing their displeasure over this meeting. User Upasana Singh wrote, “Devendra Fadnavis met Sharad Pawar today. Last time they talked with each other was when they had almost finalised cabinet for new Maharashtra Government in November 2019.”
User Chandra Nandi wrote, “Sir last time you met Sanjay Raut & after that CBI investigation of SSR case was totally slowed down & now you met Sharad Pawar!!
Please don’t do any kind of political deal in SSR Case.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut took a potshot at Fadnavis saying that Sharad Pawar must have told him how to be a good opposition leader. “Sharad Pawar may have advised Devendra Fadnavis on how to be a good opposition leader. If he continues to act like this, the opposition (BJP) will not come to power (in the state) in the next 100 years,” Raut was quoted as saying.
Maharashtra is governed by an alliance of three political parties namely the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP. The Shiv Sena was earlier with the BJP but it severed ties with it to join hands with the saffron party’s political rivals.