Ajit Pawar may replace Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM, claims opposition leader Wadettiwar
Gadchiroli (PTI): Maharashtra opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday suggested that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar may replace Eknath Shinde as the chief minister.
Addressing a press conference in Gadchiroli city, Wadettiwar also claimed preparations are on to admit Shinde to a hospital and later replace him on "health grounds".
He said NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel NCP MLAs, met in Pune recently amid speculation about Shinde's likely replacement and in view of "talks among MLAs loyal to Ajit that he could be made the chief minister".
The buzz about the "health" of Shinde, who was at his native village in Satara, grew louder after his supporter and MLA Sanjay Shirsat recently claimed the CM has fallen sick as he works for 24 hours.
"Information is coming out about ongoing preparations to admit Eknath Shinde in a hospital and replace him with a new chief minister," Wadettiwar said.
The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly also claimed the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has stated that Shinde is not keeping well.
"I fear that he (Shinde) may be admitted to a hospital for two months and may be replaced on medical grounds. People of Maharashtra are asking whether preparations are on to admit Shinde in a hospital on medical grounds," the senior Congress leader said.
Notably, Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana also referred to MLA Shirsat's claim about Shinde's "sickness".
"Shinde works for 24 hours, but it does not reflect anywhere in the state. If he has lost his sleep from the fear of losing his post anytime, it cannot be termed that he is working round-the-clock," the Saamana said in its editorial on Monday.
"If Shirsat's claims are true, Shinde should be admitted to an ICU and kept away from meeting (Deputy CMs) Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar. Shinde should be admitted to a good hospital in Mumbai or Thane," the editorial said sarcastically.
Interestingly, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan last month claimed that Ajit Pawar, who is part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government, will be appointed as the chief minister around August 10.
This claim was dismissed by senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Fadnavis had said Ajit Pawar was well aware of the fact that he won't become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2, when he joined the state government with eight MLAs of NCP.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Assam: 23,000 people affected by urban floods as IMD forecasts more rain
Guwahati (PTI): More than 23,000 people have been affected by urban floods in Assam as rains lashed several parts of the state, while the IMD warned of more showers, official sources said on Friday.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), in its bulletin, said urban floods have been reported from the three districts of Kamrup (Metropolitan), Sribhumi and Cachar.
Four revenue circles and 12 villages have been inundated in these districts, affecting 23,619 people.
The worst-hit has been Cachar district, where 15,617 people have been affected, followed by Sribhumi with 8,002 flood-hit people, according to the bulletin.
There were no reports of deaths or people missing in the urban floods in the last 24 hours, the ASDMA said.
Fifty-three marooned people and three animals were rescued by a State Disaster Relief Force boat in Sribhumi district.
Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Guwahati, has issued an 'orange alert' for the four districts of Sribhumi, Hailakandi, Cachar and Dima Hasao for the next 24 hours.
An 'orange alert' implies 'be prepared to take action' and is sounded when thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind reaching wind speed 30 to 40 kmph, with heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places.
'Yellow alert' to be on 'watch/be updated' has been issued for 20 districts -- Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Nalbari, both Kamrup districts, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
Some of the districts on 'yellow alert' are likely to continue receiving heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms for the next couple of days, as per the RMC forecast.
