Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in the house on Wednesday that there is scope for the latter to sit “here” (in the treasury benches, where the ruling alliance parties sit).
“You (Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray) can be considered for inclusion here (in the treasury benches where the ruling alliance sits). At least till 2029, there is no scope for us to come there (opposition benches). But Uddhav can think about the scope of coming to this side (the treasury benches where the ruling alliance members sit), and that can be thought about in a different way. But there is absolutely no scope left for us (BJP) to come there (opposition benches),” Fadnavis said in the house, openly addressing Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray directly.
Fadnavis said these words during a farewell party given to Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, whose term ended on Wednesday (today).
The term of the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, ended on Wednesday, which was his last day attending the Legislative Council’s monsoon session, which will go on for a few more days.
As the house bid farewell to Danve, Chief Minister Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, and other ministers, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, and other members from the opposition bench, delivered speeches to bid farewell to Danve.
It was on this occasion that Chief Minister Fadnavis made a statement openly addressed to Uddhav Thackeray directly, which has raised eyebrows and sparked off political speculation about what Fadnavis has in mind.
Speaking about the career of Danve, Fadnavis said, “Ambadas Danve is younger than me, but a bigger player than me. Even though he is now in Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, he is originally from our BJP. Ambadas Danve’s life started in the BJP. He was working as an effective leader. There were some disputes, and he had to leave the BJP. Then he joined our then-ally party, the Shiv Sena, which is still our friend. After joining Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, he worked in various positions.
”He did his MA in mass communication and journalism. It was expected that he would compile news, but he became a news provider instead. Journalists and lawyers are seen most in the political field. The assembly got a good leader. Being groomed by the BJP, one can see perseverance and a studious attitude in him, which is missing in other parties. But he was in the BJP for 15 years”.
“As the Leader of the Opposition, Danve raised many questions. The post of Leader of the Opposition is of utmost importance in a democracy. I have also held this post for some time. Most of my life has been spent in the opposition, and I have done my PhD in how to work in the opposition,” Fadnavis said.
“Just as I have experience of working in the opposition, I also have 10 years of experience of working in the government. Ambadas Danve also tried to do justice to this position by being aggressive at times and revealing secrets at times. Although this is his farewell ceremony for this term, we wish him well and hope that he will return to the house,” Fadnavis said at the farewell meeting at the house.
After this, Fadnavis said, “Uddhav, we have no scope to come to that side (opposition benches) till 2029, but you have scope to come here (the treasury benches where the ruling alliance sits). We can think about it in a different way,” leaving everybody surprised.