No cold war in Maha ruling alliance: CM

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, on Sunday sought to dismiss speculations of a "cold war" within the Mahayuti government, and presented a positive outlook for the state's budget session beginning on Monday.

- Surendra P Gangan and Saurabha Kulshreshtha

MUMBAI:

The three leaders were addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting and customary tea party ahead of the four-week budget session of the state legislature. "There is no war. Those who know both of us will remember what we do when we are together," said Fadnavis, pointing to their meetings before Shinde's rebellion split the undivided Shiv Sena and sunk the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2022.

While Fadnavis maintained that all partners of ruling Mahayuti — the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the NCP — are working unitedly, Shinde chipped in, "Everything is thanda thanda, cool cool. It is just that Fadnavis and I have swapped our chairs. Only Ajit Pawar's chair is fixed."

Pawar then quipped, "What can I do if you couldn't keep your chair."