Uddhav Thackeray meets Shiv Sena MLAs

Mumbai: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray met his party MLAs today to discuss and sort out several issues between the party and the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, of which Sena is a part. The party whips in the legislature would again have a meeting with Thackeray on Monday, sources said. Monsoon session of the state Assembly is underway.

Uddhav Thackeray

Sena has been sulking over various issues ever since joining the government. "Shiv Sena leaders did not get plum ministries or the ministries which entail day-to-day contact with the common man. That was the reason for our unhappiness in the beginning," a Sena leader said.

"Then it was realised that the ministers of state (from Shiv Sena) did not have much powers and not much work was delegated to them. Now the Shiv Sena MLAs are upset because they are not being able to push the government machinery or the ministers to get their work done," he added.

Former Mumbai Mayor Sunil Prabhu and MLAs Sanjay Shirsat, Ajay Chaudhari, Anil Kadam, Rajesh Kshirsagar, Subhash Sabne, Rajan Salvi, Shambhuraje Desai, Pratap Sarnaik and the party group leader in the Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe were amongst those who met Uddhav at the party office.

Many of them were also present at the meeting at the Thackeray residence, 'Matoshree', last night. Yesterday, they had met at PWD Minister Eknath Shinde's chamber. Uddhav assured them that he would speak to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the source said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Uddhav said that MLAs were raising only people's issues and not pressing any personal agendas so the ministers should do their bidding. Asked about Sena MLAs' grievances against ministers from their own party, he said it was the party's internal matter.