Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde hints at further delay of local body polls

Chief minister Eknath Shinde rejected former CM Uddhav Thackeray's demand for mid-term Assembly elections, but added that the local body polls are expected to be delayed further. Shinde said this in New Delhi where he, along with deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, met PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda on Friday and Saturday.

In another development that took place when the duo was in the capital, around 10 Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs met on Friday night at their colleague Krupal Tumane's residence to plan a strategy to sit away from Uddhav Thackeray. Two MPs, Bhavana Gawali and Rahul Shewale, have sounded a warning by asking Thackeray to let Sena MPs vote for a BJP candidate Draupadi Murmu in the presidential election slated on July 18. However, Tumane denied having held any such meeting.

Also read: My govt will complete tenure, we will win next election: Maha CM Eknath Shinde

The Shinde group has said 15 MPs are on its side, thus making it a two third of the party's total strength (19) in the house, which like the State Assembly, could be recognised as a separate group. Shinde said instead of asking for the mid-term Assembly polls, his government should be given public welfare oriented suggestions. "We are the Shiv Sena and we have formed a government in a legal and constitutional way. It is what the people voted for in 2019. We are in a majority and have been recognised by the Speaker," he added.

Responding to Sena MP Sanjay Raut's allegations that 50 MLAs were paid R50 crore each for changing sides, he said it was the Hindutva ideology of the late Balasaheb Thackeray that reinstated the natural alliance of the Sena and BJP. "Let them say anything. It makes no difference to us." The CM said the state cabinet would be expanded soon. The government faces another test in the Supreme Court when the Thackeray faction's pleas challenging the government formation comes up on Monday (July 11). It was learnt that the CM and DCM discussed the Cabinet formation at a four-hour long meeting with Shah.

Shinde said the government was in the process of getting the other backward class (OBC) quota in the local bodies restored by the Supreme Court. "The government is of the opinion to not have polls without the OBC quota. Also, monsoon makes conducting of polls difficult because the administration [responsible for holding polls] will be busy handling relief measures. We will request the state election commission to delay/postpone the polls further," he added.

The state election body already told the SC that elections in rain-hit areas would be held after monsoon recedes. The 10-year average rainfall is considered for determining the affected areas. Mumbai, Thane and 12 other big corporations are in the different phases of the election process. Polling in Mumbai is expected to be held in September or October. It remains to be seen if civic polls in Mumbai and MMR will be delayed further.

Shinde and Fadnavis met solicitor general Tushar Mehta on Saturday in Delhi to request him to represent the state in the SC next week when the OBC case comes up for hearing next week. On Friday, a dedicated commission submitted its report on the OBC empirical data to the government, which might be rectified and the SC's nod sought to do so, said a person in the know of the matter.

The government wants to have the city council and panchayat presidents elected directly by the people. It is also planning to redraw the boundaries of civic wards because they were allegedly designed to favour the MVA.