Less than a week since the Maha Vikas Aghadi nominee Uddhav Thackeray assumed the Chief Ministership of Maharashtra, questions are already being raised over the functioning of the state leadership, especially the Chief Minister. Thackeray drew criticism for espousing vindictive politics by abruptly canceling the metro car shed project and putting under scanner a host of other projects commissioned by the previous government.
Now, the presence of Aaditya Thackeray and his cousin Varun Sardesai, who is not even an MLA, in the meeting of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra has attracted flak from many netizens. An image of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray presiding over a meeting with officials was shared by a journalist following which many on Twitter questioned the capacity in which Aaditya Thackeray and his cousin Varun Sardesai, were attending the meeting.
The chief minister of Maharashtra @OfficeofUT conducting the meeting in formal attire. This is pleasurable change that no more fancy jackets in @CMOMaharashtra . #MaharashtraCM #MaharashtraPolitics pic.twitter.com/E2Wn1nwkjz
— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) December 2, 2019
One Twitter user highlighted the presence of Aaditya Thackeray, who holds no position in the government of Maharashtra, saying that it sends a wrong message.
Aditya should avoid attending such meetings. It conveys wrong msg!
— ~| Prasad | ಮಂಜಿನ ಹನಿ | Dew Drop |~ (@Manjina_Hani) December 2, 2019
Calling it a wrong thing, another Twitter user questioned if Aaditya Thackeray is holding any ministerial position in the cabinet to be a part of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra’s meeting.
Is this @AUThackeray having any ministerial post or any government officer at current situation..?
Its wrong thing— आशिष माघाडे (@maghadeas79) December 2, 2019
One Twitteratti took a dig at Aaditya Thackeray saying that if Aditya wants to attend all the meetings in an official capacity, he should rather tender his resignation as an MLA and the CM should appoint him as his OSD/PS/PA.
Dear @CMOMaharashtra , if you want Aditya Thackeray to attend all meetings, ask him to resign as MLA & appoint him as your OSD / PS / PA.That way he can ‘officially’ attend meetings & you too will get a safe seat (since Sena anyways lost Bandra East). pic.twitter.com/4Lw5pWoeq2
— Jiten Gajaria (@jitengajaria) December 2, 2019
Many others raised eyebrows over the inclusion of Varun Sardesai in the CMO meeting. Varun Sardesai, who calls himself a “wannabe neta”, is a leader and a core committee member of the Yuva Sena, Sena’s youth wing headed by party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s elder son Aaditya. Varun is the first cousin of Aaditya and has been politically active from his days at the Datta Meghe College of Engineering in Airoli, where he headed the Yuva Sena’s unit in his first year.
However, Varun is neither an MLA nor holds a position in Chief Minister’s Office or the government. Many Twitter users expressed their disapproval with Sardesai attending the Chief Minister of Maharashtra’s meeting.
One Sanjay Gaikwad questioned stature of Varun Sardesai for attending the meeting, given that he is not even an elected MLA.
@mohitbharatiya_ @priyankac19 @jitengajaria in what capacity is Varun Sardesai attending this meeting. He’s not even an elected MLA. @amitmalviya @TajinderBagga pic.twitter.com/keaSqhFVnH
— Sanjay Gaikwad (@sanjaygaik123) December 3, 2019
BJP too questioned the presence of Varun Sardesai in the Chief Minister’s meeting. BJP spokesperson, Suresh Nakhua asked the journalist Sudhir Suryawanshi, who shared the picture of the meeting extolling the new Chief Minister for choosing formal attire for the meeting, as to in which capacity was Varun Sardesai attending the meeting.
Hello @ss_suryawanshi
What is Varun Sardesai doing in this meeting and in what capacity ?
Did you ask this question ? https://t.co/gn00MeUZtx
— Suresh Nakhua ?? ( सुरेश नाखुआ ) (@SureshNakhua) December 3, 2019
Earlier, the NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress alliance government in Maharashtra was accused of pursuing vendetta politics as key projects envisaged and set in motion by the Devendra Fadnavis’ government were put on hold by the CM Uddhav Thackeray. Regarding the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train project, Thackeray said, “We will review the development projects happening across the state and determine if some projects that are done on priority are really needed. We will review the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train project,” Uddhav said.
