Uddhav Thackeray’s meet with PM Modi sets political tongues from both sides of the aisle wagging

CM Uddhav Thackeray (centre), Deputy CM Ajit Pawar (right) and PWD Minister Ashok Chavan address a press conference after meeting PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday in New Delhi. Pic/PTI

With the memories of a closed-door meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah that changed the political scene of Maharashtra still fresh, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray set ‘political' tongues wagging on Tuesday after a private audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Thackeray said there was nothing political about the meeting.

I had gone to meet the PM not Nawaz Sharif," he told reporters who probed whether he met Modi in the absence of state ministers, who, along with Thackeray, discussed a dozen issues with Modi. The one-on-one meeting between the PM and CM lasted at least 30 minutes, said people in the know.

"I have never hidden it. I said it recently and I'm saying it again. We (Modi and him) may not be in power together, but our relationship is not over. Meeting him (privately) isn't wrong. And it won't be wrong even if I leave my colleagues (Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and ex-CM and PWD Minister Ashok Chavan) here and go back to meet him (Modi) again," the CM said at Maharashtra Sadan, without revealing the details of the one-on-one meeting at the PM's residence.

Also Read: Had not gone to meet Nawaz Sharif, says Uddhav Thackeray as he plays down one-on-one meeting with PM Modi

Thackeray said there have been many instances of him and Modi talking. "We make calls to each other. Isn't that discussion personal?" he asked, adding that he was happy with Tuesday's meeting and hoped that Modi would act positively.

The meeting gave rise to speculations of the BJP and Sena patching up, sooner or later. Some Sena leaders, who have maintained that Thackeray and Modi were on good terms despite their parties parting ways, claimed to have proven their point. Some said the meeting would come in handy for Thackeray to keep the troublemakers in the Maha Vikas Aghadi on their toes.

According to the Sena chief, the meeting with Shah had been a reason to break the alliance with BJP, because, as a precondition for joining hands in Parliamentary and State Assembly polls, the home minister had apparently promised Sena the CM's post and an equal share in power. The pre-poll alliance broke and a three-party government was formed under Thackeray's leadership. Shah denied making any promise much later, endorsing the state BJP leaders' stand.

Maratha quota

In an expanded meeting attended by Modi, Thackeray, Pawar, Chavan and Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, the state delegation demanded that the Centre amend the Constitution to remove the 50 per cent cap on quota to give Marathas reservation in jobs and education since the Supreme Court has taken away the state's right to decide on quotas. About a legal tangle over OBC's political quota in local self-government, Maharashtra asked Modi to prevent the problem from impacting other states and make a uniform policy. They also asked for a national policy for reservation for promotion in government jobs. The Maharashtra government had such a quota but the court judgment stayed it.

Kanjurmarg land for Metro

Thackeray petitioned Modi to end the tussle over the Kanjurmarg land for Metro 3 car depot. The Sena government shifted the depot from Aarey on environmental grounds, but the land is mired in legal controversy. The Centre has been made a party in the court case. The State wants Modi to instruct officials concerned to try for an ‘out of court' settlement.

Correct the governor

Deputy CM Pawar said that they requested Modi to direct Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to accept the MVA's 12 recommendations for nomination in the upper house. "We told the PM that we're a majority government and the Cabinet has taken a decision. The recommendations are legal, and hence he should tell the governor to clear appointments," he said.

The State also asked for its GST share, Rs 1,000 crore assistance for a bulk drug (pharmaceutical) park, R5,000 crore to protect coastal areas against cyclones, additional grant for urban and rural areas and the status of classical language for Marathi.

‘Centre gives adequate help'

Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis said he had been saying all along that, instead of blaming the Centre for everything, the CM should meet the PM to discuss the issues. "Such meetings are good for Maharashtra, but it would be appropriate if only the issues related to the Centre are discussed," he said.

He said the Centre gives the State adequate assistance. "The OBC issue is Maharashtra-specific. Maratha quota can also be handled by the State instead of wasting effort in meeting the Centre. The quota in job promotion is the State's decision, not the Centre's," he added, saying that the Metro tangle was created by the state government.

He said complaining against the governor was ridiculous. "It's the governor's right. Political parties or Centre cannot do anything about it."