On the eve of Amit Shah’s visit, all is not well with Maha BJP

The developments in Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won’t be music to ears to party National President Amit Shah, who is visiting Mumbai for three days, starting June 16. Both Devendra Fadnavis-led government and the party state unit are facing issues which could warrant intervention of the party chief. There are voices of revolt against Chief Minister Fadnavis, and also against party state president Raosaheb Danve.

According to a senior minister, Shah’s visit is unlikely to result in any change of guard at the government or party. But it will definitely indicate whether the party is exploring the option of mid-term election.

With the unrest over farm loan waiver continuing and flip-flop by Fadnavis government inviting criticism, it seems Fadnavis is on the back-foot even as negotiations with farmers have entered the last leg. The state government was initially trying to create a rift within farmer leaders, but later yielded to loan waiver demand. This gave way to increasing voices against Fadnavis within the BJP and the Cabinet. Party insiders are pointing out the fact that Chandrakant Patil was asked to head the high-power committee of six ministers since Patil is a Maratha leader from Kolhapur which falls in …read more