Fadnavis Gives Siddhivinayak Temple Trust Chief MoS Status
Mumbai, June 19: In what could be the maor cabinet reshuffle before the Assembly elections next year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given Aadesh Bandeka, the chief of Siddhivinayak temple trust a junior minister's status. Aadesh Bandekar, a Shiv Sena leader and popular Marathi TV show host, will now enjoy the facilities of Minister of State (MoS) in the Maharashtra cabinet.
The elevation of Mr Bandekar is being seen by the opposition as the BJP's bid to woo the Shiv Sena, as he is considered close to party chief Uddhav Thackeray, say sources.
During the bitter campaign ahead of the Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls last month, the Maharashtra Chief Minister had accused Mr Bandekar of tampering with an audio clip, in which Mr Fadnavis was purportedly heard telling BJP workers to use "saam, daam, dand, bhed (negotiation, money, punishment and division)" to win the bypoll. The Chief Minister had reportedly also said how could Mr Bandekar "indulge in dirty tricks" being the chairman of Siddhivinayak temple trust.
Mr Bhandekar had begun his career in Marathi theatre but later joined the Shiv Sena in 2009. He had also contested the elections in 2014 on a Sena ticket but had lost to MNS candidate Nitin Sardesai.
The government order of giving MoS status to Mr Bandekar comes about ten days after BJP president Amit Shah's Sampark for Samarthan one-on one meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, at the latter's residence in Matoshree. "The meeting was positive. This is the beginning of reducing tensions between both the parties. More meetings are being planned in the coming days to improve relations", BJP sources had said.
Ties between the BJP and the Shiv Sena have touched rock-bottom over the past few years. Amid daily attacks at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena has declared that it will go it alone in parliamentary polls next year.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
