There are active talks in Maharashtra politics of Vasai MLA and president of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) Hitendra Thakur getting a ministerial berth as a token of appreciation for voting against the no-confidence motion of the Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis government.
Thakur has 3 MLAs from his party - Vasai, Nala Sopara and Boisar- and is known to be a confidante of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Shinde is not on good terms with Thakur as Shiv Sena had fought against BVA during the 2019 Assembly polls with encounter cop Pradeep Sharma fighting against Kshitij Thakur and Vijay Patil fighting against the BVA chief and the Shiv Sena candidates were trounced miserably. Since then Hitendra Thakur had a grudge against CM Shinde. During the MVA regime, Bachu Kadu of Prahar party was given a ministerial berth even as he had 2 MLAs elected from his party including Kadu.
Now the political scenario has changed and Thakur has inched towards the BJP and BVA has voted for the BJP (NDA candidate) during the MLC polls as well as the Rajya Sabha polls. Besides, during the no-confidence motion tabled before the Assembly last week, BVA voted against the motion and thus won loyalty points from Shinde and Fadnavis.
According to political sources, during Fadnavis and Shinde's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J P Nadda, the clearance for giving Thakur a ministerial berth was okayed. Now either Hitendra Thakur or his son Kshitij may get the berth.
Furthermore, the important Vasai Virar civic polls are approaching and BVA is in the majority but Thakur needs the ministerial berth to win comfortably during the ensuing civic polls.
A BVA leader said this is good news that one of our party MLAs are being considered for a ministerial berth though we are not sure what portfolio will be given. This also means more developmental projects for Vasai, Virar and Palghar districts will be paid attention including MMRDA, MHADA housing projects.
