Amid speculation in a section of the media that certain of its MLAs were “in touch” with the ruling BJP leaders in the State, Maharashtra Congress on Friday vehemently dismissed as “false, mischievous and misleading” the speculation that former Chief Minister and its senior party leader Ashok Chavan had a secret meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
While both Chavan and Fadnavis dismissed the speculation that a meeting had taken place between them, Congress’ Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat slammed a section of the media that was speculating about Chavan’s meeting with the deputy chief minister.
In a statement issued here in the evening, Thorat said: “Reports in the media regarding my colleague and senior congress leader @AshokChavanINC are false, mischievous and misleading in nature. Ashokaraoji is actively planning the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the state. Together we are determined to strengthen the Congress in Maharashtra”. Newspapers and electronic media are expected to report responsibly in matters relating to our senior leader like Ashok Chavan, but in the last few days there has been an attempt to deliberately create confusion carrying false news about Chavan and the Congress party.
We request the media to stop this,” Thoat said. On his part, Fadnavis also denied that he had met Chavan. “I happened to bump into him at a Ganpati festival function. When I reached a Ganpati festival function, I saw Chavan leaving the venue.
But, no meeting has taken place between me and Chavan,” Fadnavis said, while talking to media persons in Pune
On his part, Chavan had earlier condemned the reports about his having met Fadnavis.
The speculation that has been making rounds in a section of the media that of the total 44 Congress MLAs in the State Assembly, a group of MLAs was planning to quit the Sonia Gandhi-led party and join the BJP which is currently ruling the state in alliance with the a group of Shiv Sena MLAs led by current chief minister Eknath Shinde and that even Chavan had met Fadnavis in this regard.
However, the speculation about the possible split in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has been set at rest, with Chavan, Fadnavis and Thorat issuing separate statements dismissing the speculation that the former chief minister had met the current deputy chief minister.
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s BJP president Ashish Shelar has denied reports in a section of the media that Amit Shah would call on MNS chief Raj Thackeray during his visit to Mumbai on September 5. The Union Home Minister is visiting the metropolis on Wednesday to visit various Ganpati mandals. The speculation had it that as part of the BJP’s preparations for the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls slated to be held later this year, Shah – during his visit to Mumbai -- would meet Raj to stitch up an alliance with the MNS .
Describing the possibility of Shah meeting the MNS chief during his visit to Mumbai, Shelar said: “The media is indulging in kite flying. The reports in the media that Amit Shah would meet Raj Thackeray during his visit to Mumbai are ridiculous. Amit Shah’s visit to Mumbai is a routine one. The media speculation about the Union Home Minister meeting Raj Thackeray is a table story. There is absolutely no truth in it”.
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