Polltune Plays At Conclave

Ahead of Maharashtra polls allies, BJP & Shiv Sena not on same page over Metro-Aarey Issue

- Kiran Dinkar

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday at India Today Conclave Mumbai that there is no doubt that he will return as the next CM in the upcoming Assembly election in the state.

Making it clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will fight the upcoming poll with Shiv Sena as their ally and that they will return to power, he said he is not deterred by the ally’s criticism of his government or his party.

“Aisa hai ki dost agar pathar bhi phainke toh to usse phool samjahna chahiye (Stones hurled by friends are like flowers),” said Fadnavis.

On Shiv Sena youth president Aaditya Thackeray, Fadnavis said, “It is a positive sign that at such a young age he is expressing his views on issues and travelling the state. It is good that he wants to part of active politics.”

“As far as making him deputy chief minister, this will be decided by the Shiv Sena. In the last cabinet expansion, too, I told the Shiv Sena that if they want to make anyone deputy CM, I have no objection. But they said very little time is left (before the election) so they don’t want the post at present.”

He claimed that none of the Congress and NCP leaders who have joined BJP have any inquiry pending against them.