Unmesh Gujarathi
sprouts Brand Story


The rebellion in the Shiv Sena camp was a well-organized game plan by the leader of Opposition in the Assembly and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, described as “Amit Shah of Maharashtra.

Despite inkling, the Thackeray camp including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray remained

inattentive. Seizing the opportunity, Fadnavis skillfully engineered the defections in the Shiv Sena camp. As such now it is certain that Fadnavis will become the CM and Eknath Shinde, the Deputy Chief Minister.

The money relations between Shinde and Fadnavis were strengthened over the “Samruddhi Expressway”. Then corrupt Managing Director of MSRDC Radheshyam Mopalwar was given an extension thrice after his retirement. All those related to this mega project flourished and progressed and the condition of farmers became vulnerable.

Having the idea of these clandestine deals, Thackeray had warned Additional CS (Urban Development Bhushan Gagrani and Mopalwar, not to clear any file without his knowledge. This obviously irked Shinde. As if to add to his worries, the ED sent a notice to Sachin Joshi, Shinde’s confidante to handle his money matters. The notices were served also to concerned builders.

As such disturbed Shinde, and decided to surrender to Fadnavis. Before that Shiv Sena MP Bhawna Gawali, MLA Pratap Sarnaik, BMC Standing Committee Chairman Yashwant Jadhav and his wife MLA Yamini Jadhav and others were prepared to toe the BJP line to escape the ED dragnet.

Fadnavis is shrewd like mashed Modi and Shah. He had already studied how those running Pan Vending shops, and auto-rickshaw drivers had amassed crores of rupees. Kirit Somaiya was additional help. Besides, many IAS officers like Mopalwar were providing up-to-date information to Fadnavis. As such he has been able to entangle many big fishes to his rod.

The MLAs who didn’t earn much were allured by offering Rs 50 crore and ministerial portfolio Fadnavis fulfilled his ambition of staging a come back in Maharashtra corridors of power.

Discontentment over portfolios
Fadnavis has kept rebels in his control with his sweet talk from the very beginning and now they have been told that they will have to accept the portfolios which are offered.

BJP is planning to retain 28 ministerial posts, while 10 to 12 ministries, including DCM, will be offered to the rebel Shinde group. Shinde, besides the post of the DCM, has asked for creamy portfolios like Urban Development and Revenue. However, the BJP is likely to offer either of the portfolios, in addition to the portfolio of DCM.