Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Pune on Friday night and on Saturday visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Fort in Raigad to offer obeisance and floral tributes. Later he will visit NCP state president Sunil Tatkare’s residence at Sutarwadi in Roha taluka in Raigad for lunch.
Tatkare, a Lok Sabha MP, has invited Shah for lunch at his residence. Shah accepted the invitation. Shah’s visit to Raigad holds political significance in the wake of the unresolved dispute over guardian ministership row between Shiv Sena and NCP.
In January this year, the guardian ministers’ list for all 36 districts was officially released. The Shiv Sena led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde took serious objection over two districts, Raigad and Nashik, claiming its right on them.
In Raigad district, NCP minister Aditi Tatkare, daughter of Sunil Tatkare, was made the guardian minister. Whereas in Nashik, BJP’s Girish Mahajan got the role of guardian minister. However, within 24 hours of Eknath Shinde making his disappointment public, Fadnavis stayed the appointment of guardian ministers in these two districts. Since then, the issue has remained unresolved.
In Raigad, Shiv Sena minister Bharat Gogawale has demanded the guardianship of the district. Whereas in Nashik, Shiv Sena’s Dadasaheb Bhube asserted his right for guardian minister’s post.
The NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had indicated in the past that it had a greater say over Raigad. Moreover, NCP believes it has already foregone its rights over Nashik to accommodate BJP’s minister there.
With Kumbh Mela in 2027, BJP wants to hold Nashik guardian minister’s post which will be crucial in planning and executing the district mega projects for the mammoth event ahead.
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There is possibility of Shah speaking to leaders of all three parties on the sidelines of the scheduled programmes to unite and work collectively.
Secondly, on Saturday evening, Shah will attend 75th anniversary of a Gujarati weekly magazine at Vile Parle in Mumbai. The Union Home Minister will then visit Sahyadri guest house at Malabar Hills. Sources said, “Shah will hold discussions on organisation-related issues with BJP leaders.”
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