Shirsat cornered as Sena-BJP tussle intensifies ahead of local body polls

BJP MLAs complain to CM about Shirsat’s dept stalling projects; Sena MLAs say they are being singled out

- Surendra P Gangan

Just as the spotlight begins to fade on social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat’s ‘cash gate’ controversy, the Shiv Sena MLA finds himself in fresh trouble. But his party colleagues suspect there's more to it than meets the eye.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs have complained to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing Shirsat’s department of stalling projects by refusing to release funds. They claim the problem is particularly acute in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, from where Shirsat has been elected and is also guardian minister. The MLAs allege that delaying projects and schemes is a ploy to turn people against BJP legislators in their respective constituencies.

In Shirsat's defence, Krishan Hegde, Shiv Sena deputy leader, says, “The social justice department’s budget is very limited and it is distributed equally. There is no substance to the allegations that BJP MLAs do not get funds.”

Sena MLAs allege that Shirsat is being singled out to discredit the party ahead of local body elections. And he’s providing ample ammunition.

Shirsat was one of the Sena MLAs who supported party chief Eknath Shinde when he split the undivided Shiv Sena in June 2022, and went on to become chief minister in the first Mahayuti government. Now social justice minister in the second Mahayuti government, Shirsat has courted controversy several times in the last three months.