Maharashtra politics: ‘Just a month on, CM-Dy CM cold war breaks out’

The leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, has claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has been encroaching upon Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's authority of supervising all projects in the state through a war room. Wadettiwar said in Nagpur on Friday that Pawar had convened a meeting in the CM's war room.

The first meeting was held on Thursday, he said, adding, "Apparently, there is a cold war between Ajit Pawar and the CM. Shinde is upset and left suddenly for his native place yesterday for three days. How can a CM go to a farm for three days when the state faces so many problems? He goes into exile when such things upset him."

Ajit Pawar at the meeting to review projects

At Thursday's meeting, senior bureaucrats and head of the CM's war room, Radheshyam Mopalwar, were present (see photo). The Dy CM proposed to review projects every fortnight, said an officer.

Wadettiwar said all was not well within the three-party government. "Their three faces are in three different directions. Despite having no direct connection with
departments and projects undertaken, the finance minister had convened a meeting. Actually, the CM is the chairman of the war room committee that reviews
projects, and yet Pawar has done it," said the Congress leader.

When asked whether he saw Pawar undermining the CM, Wadettiwar said it was the NCP leader's habit to do so. "He has been doing the same all along. Let's see where this cold war leads."