Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have changed their stand, expressing reluctance to go to Matoshree – Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence in Mumbai to meet him. Revenue minister and senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil said in Kolhapur on Monday that BJP-led state government was stable and the issue doesn’t arise of going to meet Mr Thackeray. Earlier there were reports that Mr Patil and finance minister Sudhir Mungantivar will meet Mr Thackeray to placate BJP’s ally in the state.
After BJP’s floor management meeting on last Thursday, news of BJP leaders going to Matoshree on March 28 to meet Mr Thackeray had emerged. According to the reports, the BJP leaders were going to meet the Shiv Sena leadership to convince them to support the state government on various issues. Recently, the Shiv Sena has repeatedly criticised chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP. The Shiv Sena MLAs have also cornered the BJP on the floor of the house. Therefore, news reports appeared that BJP leaders were slated to Mr Thackeray on March 28 in a bid to pacify the miffed ally.
But now it seems that the BJP leadership has changed its mind and is not going to meet Mr Thackeray. Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said, “Issue of going to Matoshree does not arise. We are not going to anywhere. There is no issue that needs to be discussed.” He further said, “We have the support of 200 plus MLAs. Therefore we don’t need to poach MLAs from other parties.”
Wooing Rane
Meanwhile, Mr Patil also indicated that BJP is ready to bring senior Congress leader Narayan Rane into its fold. “Rane Saheb is a leader who is liked by all. Every party likes him.” But Mr Patil also said, “Such decision can only take place after consultation with state president and local workers.” The speculation of Mr Rane leaving Congress has been rife. Though he has denied it. But Mr Rane has made several statements against Congress state leadership recently.
