Explained: Sharad Pawar-Amit Shah Meeting; Raut Calls Deshmukh “Accidental” HM — What’s Cooking In Maharashtra

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut took a shot at coalition partner NCP yesterday when he called the current home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh an “accidental home minister”, reports TOI.

Raut’s comment appeared in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna. In his weekly column, he said that Deshmukh got the home portfolio only because other NCP leaders like Jayant Patil and Dilip Walse-Patil were not ready to accept the crucial post.

Raut further criticised Deshmukh. He said that the home minster should “not be working in the company of suspects”.

“The police department has already been defamed and on top of it, such things raise doubts. Deshmukh got in trouble with some senior officials for no reason. Home minister should speak the least, only if necessary, once in a while, and keep distance from the media,” he wrote.

In a daring move, Raut also seemed to question the honesty of Deshmukh.

“The one heading the police department is not just there to receive the “salute” but is also meant to offer a strong leadership. How can we forget that such toughness comes from honesty?” he wrote.

Raut also questioned “unlimited power” given to Sachin Waze when he was just an assistant police inspector and sought an inquiry into it. “If Waze was extorting money sitting in the police commissionerate, then, why was the home minister not aware of it?” he asked.

Raut also criticised the way Maharashtra government dealt with the whole incident.

He said that “extortionist” Waze was initially defended in the state legislature, ut no one was ready to respond to the allegations levelled by Param Bir Singh. Therefore, the “media was taken over by Opposition leaders for some time, which was terrible,” he said.

Within hours of the publication of Raut’s piece, deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar reacted sharply. He asked Raut to not play “spoilsport” when the alliance was functioning properly.

Pawar also told the media that the allotment of cabinet berths is the prerogative of the chiefs of political parties in any alliance, and the allotment of portfolio should be respected instead of making unwarranted comments.

Amidst the turmoil unleashed by the Sachin Waze-Parambir Singh saga, another political development took place, adding spice to the mix. Union home minister and BJP leader Amit Shah reportedly met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar his deputy Praful Patel in Ahmadabad on Sunday (28 March).

The public as well as media is well aware of Modi’s close relationship with Pawar who regularly meets with him at the Parliament when it is in session. A few years ago, Modi a had described Pawar as his "political guru" in a speech.

Even though, as a senior leader, Pawar is known to stabilise the ship of the MVA coalition by assuaging allies and defending the government against the Opposition attack, he is also known to keep his options option.

Pawar is reportedly keen to replace Sonia Gandhi as the UPA chairperson and revive national opposition to the BJP.

The the results of the upcoming elections in the states like Kerala, Assam where Gandhi family members have campaigned extensively will also have repercussions for the MVA alliance. A shrewd politician Pawar would have thought it to be a good idea to get a feel of all the sides.

Also read: Crumbling Of An Illicit Empire? Unravelling The Sachin Vaze-Anil Deshmukh-Param Bir Singh Jigsaw Puzzle