Maharashtra CM Rings-Up PM Modi

The Maharashtra CM, Uddhav Thackeray, called up Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to discuss political situation in the state after state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari appeared non-committal on nominating Uddhav Thackeray to the legislative council. He will have to step down if he fails to get nomination.

A senior Shiv Sena leader said that Thackeray expressed unhappiness over politics being played around his nomination.

The state cabinet had recommended Thackeray’s nomination for the two vacant seats in the upper house. Over 20 days later, the governor has not processed the recommendation of the cabinet. On Tuesday, a delegation of MVA ministers met Koshyari to urge him to nominate Thackeray.

A senior Sena leader said Thackeray decided to dial Modi and directly speak to him after he got indications from Koshyari that he would be consulting the Centre before taking a decision on his nomination.

The Sena leader said Thackeray requested Modi to intervene as a political tussle in the middle of Covid-19 outbreak would affect the state’s efforts to control the epidemic. Maharashtra has the highest number of Covid-19 cases among all states.

“Uddhav ji discussed the current political uncertainty in the state with the PM. He expressed unhappiness over the politics being played over his nomination as MLC at a time when the state is combating the coronavirus outbreak,” said a senior Shiv Sena leader requesting anonymity.

With less than a month left for Thackeray to fulfil the constitutional requirement of getting elected to either of the houses of the state legislature, the alleged delay by the Governor has kept the proverbial sword of Damocles hanging over the CM and his government.