Mumbai: Former Maharashtra minister Ramdas Kadam has made serious allegations against NCP supremo Sharad Pawar of breaking the Shiv Sena, saying that he has given proof of this to his party chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shiv Sena was “systematically weakened” by Pawar. Kadam said that some MLAs had expressed concern over this, but Thackeray was not ready to part ways with Pawar.
“We should be grateful that this (revolt led by CM Eknath Shinde) happened in the first two-and-a-half years of the Thackeray government. Otherwise, Shiv Sena would have ended at the end of the five-year term. Even 5-10 MLAs would not win the next assembly election.
However, NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Taapsee rubbished Kadam’s remarks, claiming that the BJP was behind the split in Shiv Sena and the rebel leaders were trying to divert attention from it by targeting Pawar. Kadam had submitted his resignation as “Shiv Sena leader” to Uddhav Thackeray on Monday.
Shiv Sena president and former state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray announced on Monday evening that Kadam had been sacked for indulging in “anti-party” activities. Kadam was later “reinstated” as leader by the rebel Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, fell last month after Shinde and 39 other Shiv Sena MLAs rebelled against the party.
“I have given enough evidence to Uddhavji that how NCP chief Sharad Pawar is destroying Shiv Sena,” Kadam said on Tuesday. Kadam claimed that he (Pawar) had given good posts to members of the Kunabi community (in Konkan) and also strengthened them with money.
He further claimed, “The chief minister was ours, the money came from the exchequer, but the party (Shiv Sena) was systematically weakened by Pawar. Many MLAs expressed similar concerns to you (Uddhav Thackeray), but AAP Pawar. were not ready to leave.” ,
Had (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray been alive today, would he have allowed Uddhav Thackeray to become the chief minister with the support of NCP and Congress? Kadam asked.
The former minister further said that he had opposed Uddhav Thackeray’s move (in 2019) to join hands with the NCP and Congress to form the government in Maharashtra. “I told him (Uddhav) that it is like committing a sin. His (Balasaheb Thackeray’s) soul will not get peace from this arrangement,” he said.
Kadam said Balasaheb Thackeray stood firm on his stand on Hindutva while facing the Congress and the NCP. Would he have allowed Uddhav Thackeray to become the Chief Minister by joining hands with Congress and NCP? He expressed surprise alleging that Pawar was finally successful in “breaking” the Shiv Sena.
Kadam also appealed to Uddhav Thackeray to reconsider his views about the rebels. He said, “Uddhavji, you should consider options on how to come together in future, how to bring Shinde back in the party. Try to keep our fort intact, (this) should be our priority, ” They said.
Last month, when Shinde rebelled against the party, Yogesh Kadam, son of Ramdas Kadam, MLA from Dapoli in Ratnagiri district, also joined the rebel camp. Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Taapsee said that the MVA was formed due to Pawar’s initiative and even after the rebellion, the NCP is still supporting Uddhav Thackeray and his group of Shiv Sena leaders.