Amid BJP’s attempt to expose rifts among the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi partners, the Shiv Sena added fuel to the fire by saying that the home department should have been with the Chief Minister. Besides, news reports about NCP going softer on BJP and the home minister Dilip Walse-Patil not taking strong actions against BJP leaders sparked debate among the ruling partners. However, before BJP took the mileage, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who met Walse-Patil on Friday afternoon, issued a clarification saying that news reports were baseless and far from the truth.
Even before the meeting ended, the Chief Minister’s Office quoting Thackeray in a clarification said, ‘’I have full faith in my cabinet colleagues and they are working very well. Such reports are baseless and misleading." CM also thereby made it amply clear that there was no plan to divest Walse-Patil of the home department or Shiv Sena taking the charge of the home department.
There was speculation that Thackeray was not happy with Walse-Pail's reply in the Assembly to former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' allegation that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in the state was conspiring to frame up BJP leaders in false cases.
Walse-Patil announced a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the matter. Thackeray had reportedly expressed displeasure over the issue in last week's cabinet meeting.
“The chief minister's office has already issued a clarification. He is not upset. We make all the decisions taking each other into confidence,” Walse-Patil said after his meeting.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said that action taken by Central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate in Maharashtra was an attack on the state home department which needs to be strengthened. Raut had also said that generally the chief minister holds the home portfolio, but since MVA was a coalition (of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP), the home department went to the NCP. Further, former Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire also commented that it would be better if Shiv Sena holds the home department.
Asked about Raut's comments, Walse-Patil said Raut's sentiments were right. “We will try to address shortcomings, if there are any, in the department,” he added.
Meanwhile, CM, Wasle-Patil and Raut met in the evening and discussed the home department’s strategy to effectively pursue cases. Raut accused BJP of spreading rumours about the CM being upset over Walse-Patil.
When asked about the reported feeling among some coalition leaders that the Maharashtra home department is not giving a befitting reply to the BJP when central agencies are targeting the leaders of the MVA, the minister said it was not the case. “We have to run the government as per rules and law. I have said earlier too that the home minister does not give orders in every case. Several decisions are taken at the level of DG (director general of police), CP (commissioner of police) and other senior officials," Walse-Patil said.
