“Our Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP-backed Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have almost no real communication anymore, which has turned into a source of entertainment for the public,” Raut charged.According to Raut, Shinde’s political control over his stronghold, Thane, is being systematically weakened by the BJP. The appointment of BJP minister Ganesh Naik as the guardian minister of the neighbouring Palghar district is allegedly part of this strategy.”Naik was already a minister in the first Shiv Sena-BJP government when Shinde was just a municipal councillor. He will not take orders from Shinde,” Raut wrote.Notably, Naik recently said he wants the saffron party to flourish in Thane, hinting at a possible power struggle. He also announced plans to hold public grievance meetings in the city, fuelling speculation that the BJP is preparing to challenge Shinde’s dominance.Raut claimed Shinde’s role in the government has diminished significantly. He is frequently absent from key cabinet meetings and, when present, is often late.”On 30 January, he arrived two-and-a-half hours late for a District Planning Committee meeting at the World Trade Centre,” he alleged.
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