CM Devendra Fadnavis calls meeting to pacify miffed' BJP allies

Mumbai: To defuse growing tension between partners in power, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has called a meeting of allies in the city coming Monday. Mr Fadnavis is well aware that BJP’s smaller allies have been sulking on various issues and the meet is a means to pacify them.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana’s Raju Shetty on Monday protested the government’s apathy toward farmers by chucking onions and tur dal in front of Vidhan Bhavan. The opposition did not lose the opportunity to attack the government over agricultural issues.

Sources close to the CM confirmed that he had taken note of the agitation. “The meeting called on Monday is going to address these issues as well as zilla parishad chairman elections and smooth coordination between BJP and its allies," sources confirmed.

As of now, BJP has alliances with Shetty’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Mahadev Jankar’s Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), and Vinayak Mete’s Shiv Sangram. However, all these parties are upset with BJP’s “big brother” attitude. While Mr Jankar’s RSP had to contest zilla parishad elections on its own as BJP was not ready to accommodate its workers or give it desired seats in a few pockets, BJP will now need Mr Jankar’s support in Solapur and Sangli districts to get a BJP member elected as chairman in the zilla parishad. Similarly, BJP will need the support of Mr Shetty and Mr Mete in Kolhapur and Beed, respectively. These issues will be deliberated upon in the upcoming meeting.