There is no one upmanship: CM Fadnavis refutes reports of rift in Mahayuti govt

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday refuted all reports of rift and cold war within the Mahayuti government ldquoThere is no one upmanshiprdquo Fadnavis mentioned while addressing the media on SundayFadnavis along with his deputies Ajit Pawar and Ekanth Shinde briefed the media on Sunday after the traditional tea party ahead of the assembly session The fourweek state session commences from Monday The states budget will be presented on March 10Taking a dig at the Opposition Maha VIkas Aghadi MVA alliance comprising Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar and Congress for boycotting the customary tea party meet Fadnavis said ldquoThis was a good opportunity for the dialogue But the opposition by abstaining from such meetings are cutting down the opportunities for dialogue with the governmentrdquoPrior to the ruling party media meet the MVA leaders addressed the media explaining the reason for not participating in the tea party The opposition leaders alleged misrule corruption in the government false promises to farmers and failure to maintain the lawandorder situation in Maharashtra ldquoWhen people citizens and farmers are suffering how can we be part of the tea party that has been hosted by the ruling governmentrdquo Ambadas Danve leader of the opposition in the legislative council saidReacting to this CM Fadnavis said ldquoWe are prepared for debate and will answer each and every question raised during the sessionrdquoEchoing similar views Shinde stated that this would be the second session of the government and the first budget of the Mahayuti government after the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 ldquoThough the government is new the players are the same only there is role reversal except for Ajit Pawar Shinde said In the previous Mahayuti government Shinde was the CM and Fandavis was the deputy CM In the current regime Fadnavis is the CM and Shinde is his deputyPawar quipped saying that mine is a fixed chair to which Fadnvais said Ours Shinde and his is a rotating chairShinde also warned the opposition especially Shiv Sena UBT leaders and said that there is a limit to everything ldquoIf the tolerance level is breached we too will give equally befitting repliesrdquo the deputy CM statedMeanwhile Pawar made it clear that merely because they have a thumping majority it does not mean that the Mahayuti government will drag the business ldquoThe session is for four weeks We will conduct the business as per the rule book and not only the basis of our strength in the houserdquo he assured the opposition