Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, on Sunday, said no one should play spoilsport in a coalition government, after Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut called NCP leader Anil Deshmukh an accidental home minister.
In his weekly column 'Rokhthok' in the Shiv Sena Saamana, party MP Sanjay Raut had written: "Deshmukh got the home minister's post by accident. Jayant Patil and Dilip Walse-Patil refused to take responsibility. That is why Sharad Pawar selected Anil Deshmukh for the post." Raut had also asked if "a junior officer like Sachin Vaze was running a (money) collection racket from the Mumbai police commissioner's office, why was the home minister not aware of it?"
also read
- Lok Sabha polls 2024 phase 2: Maharashtra gears up for Sena vs Sena contest in three seats | Details
- Salman Khan case: Mumbai police recovers 2 pistols, bullets from Tapi river
- Denying ticket to Varsha Gaikwad reflects Cong-Uddhav Sena’s anti-dalit stand: Milind Deora
- Lok Sabha polls: MVA seals poll pact in Maharashtra, Congress to contest in 17 seats
- Sitars, tanpuras made in Maharashtra's Miraj town get GI tags
Reacting to the remarks by Raut, Pawar said the allotment of cabinet berths is the prerogative of head of every ruling party in a coalition.
Pawar said the three parties have formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra and added that Sharad Pawar, being head of the NCP, takes all decisions including allotment of cabinet berths to the party leaders. He pointed out that a similar method is being followed by the Congress and Shiv Sena, and added, "It should be respected instead of making any unwarranted comments."
The trouble in the coalition began after former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh, on March 20, in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray claimed that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels. Deshmukh rubbished the allegations.
—With PTI inputs
