By Pankaj Upadhyay, Ritvick Arun Bhalekar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadavis on Wednesday said that he was confident that Uddhav Thackeray wouldn’t return as the chief minister of the state.

At Mumbai Tak Baithak, when Fadnavis was asked whether the BJP had another plan ready considering that the apex court ruling on Sena MLAs was expected this month, the deputy CM said that he was confident that Uddhav Thackeray wouldn’t return as the chief minister.

“There is no reason for another plan as those who have followed Supreme Court proceedings would have observed that Uddhav Thackeray resigned and didn’t undertake the floor test and hence his government just cannot return by any stretch of imaginationâ€æWe are just stating our position that we are sure that the apex court cannot overturn his resignation and bring back the government.” he said.

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‘WILL SOON EXPOSE THOSE DISRUPTING PEACE IN THE STATE’

Commenting on the recent clashes during Ram Navami celebrations, Fadnavis said that the clashes were an attempt to disrupt the socio-religious fabric of the state, especially in Sambhajinagar. “We saw the design behind the attacks and we have made many arrests as well and we will not leave anybody and will take money from the very people who’ve damaged property and indulged in vandalism. I feel that for an industrial state like Maharashtra such incidents aren’t good,” he said.

Fadnavis added, “We are capable of maintaining peace. Our stand is clear – those who try and disrupt peace, we will expose them all.”

When asked if there was a political outfit responsible for the clashes, Fadnavis said that as the home minister of the state, for now he could only say that there were some people behind the disruption. “We are joining the dots after making the arrests and soon we will expose them all.” he said.

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‘NEW MUMBAI IN THE MAKING’

Fadnavis said that Maharashtra is a state with a stable economy and the growth rate this year is about the same as the growth rate of the country. He also emphasised that Maharashtra has collected the highest GST as well.

Emphasising the need for better infrastructure to attract investment, Fadnavis agreed that the state lost out to Bengaluru and Hyderabad and to some extent, Gujarat, in some tech projects, because the rentals in Mumbai shot up and the state in recent times wasn’t able to create the necessary infrastructure.

“But now we are changing all of that. The 22 km long MTHL (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link) project and the Navi Mumbai airport will create a new third Mumbai. All investment will now come to this third Mumbai,” he said.

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‘NO POLITICAL TALKS WITH AJIT PAWAR’

The recent statements by Congress leader Nana Patole and NCP leader Ajit Pawar have not only exposed the cracks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) but speculation is rife that perhaps Ajit Pawar could once again jump ship and join BJP. On this very issue, Devendra Fadnavis said that there were no talks going on between him and Pawar and the Eknath Shinde-led state government was stable.

“There are many people in our contact, for sure, but how many will come with us, that cannot be said. We are capable enough on our own, but we don’t say there is no need for others. When, as a ruling side, we establish relationships, then many come to us with confidence and hence MLAs are always in touch with us,” Fadnavis said at the event.

The Maharashtra deputy CM said that after the short-lived NCP-BJP government, Ajit Pawar had become defensive and we couldn’t meet him for a long time. “We met twice for Covid-related meetings and we didn’t meet after that, but such is the perception that if even in a programme he goes missing somewhere, there is speculation that we are meeting. There are no talks going on between me and Ajit Pawar,” Fadnavis said.

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