Mumbai: A remark by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in response to a rapid-fire question about Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar stirred buzz in the state’s political circles on Thursday.
During an interactive session hosted by a media house on Wednesday, Fadnavis was asked, “Who communicates better between Pawar and Shinde?” He replied, “Neither of them is good at communication. I hope they don’t feel bad.”
Fadnavis’ reply was enough to provide fodder to the political rumour mills, with inferences were drawn like the CM was not happy with his two deputies or there were major differences between the three partners in Mahayuti – the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the NCP.
However, according to BJP sources, the comment was made in jest and referred to the communication skills of his two deputies. Be it while running the government or expressing views in public, both Shinde and Pawar have their limitations. While Pawar is known for his outspokenness, Shinde speaks less and prefers to keep mum when he is not happy about a particular issue, said a party leader.
To another question, among the two whom he would prefer, either Pawar or Shinde, to interact with the BJP leadership, Fadnavis's reply was, “I understand my party very well”.
