CM Devendra Fadnavis operating rumour manufacturing factory: Shiv Sena (UBT) in 'Saamana'

The Shiv Sena UBT on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accusing him of running a ldquorumourmanufacturing factoryrdquo to create political uncertainty and divert attention from key issues in the stateIn an editorial published in its party mouthpiece ldquoSaamanardquo the Thackerayled party criticised the BJP leadership while reacting to Fadnavisrsquo recent statement that the National Democratic Alliance NDA structure in Maharashtra would remain unchanged and no new parties would join the allianceThe editorial claimed the statement reflected the political situation within the ruling alliance and alleged that decisions in Maharashtra were being influenced by central leadershipEditorial alleges rumours around NCPSP joining NDAThe Shiv Sena UBT accused the BJP of spreading speculation that the Sharad Pawarled Nationalist Congress Party NCP SP was considering joining the NDAThe editorial described the BJP as a ldquorumourmanufacturing factoryrdquo and referred to the Chief Minister as its ldquoChairmanrdquoAt least two thousand salaried individuals work in this factory commonly known as the IT Cell costing millions of rupees monthly It is because the Chief Minister has successfully built these rumour factories that he has ironically earned the title of Inframan Whenever there is a need to deflect from Maharashtras core issues this factory pumps out misinformation to trigger chaos in the state the editorial statedThe Thackeray camp alleged that a series of narratives were created around the NCPSP including claims about MPs switching sides a possible merger with the NDA and a merger between the two NCP factionsShiv Sena UBT defends MVA leadersrsquo meetingsThe editorial said that only Sharad Pawar could clarify his partyrsquos political position and dismissed speculation linked to recent meetings involving Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA leadersReferring to the meeting between Sharad Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis the editorial said it was related to the MaharashtraKarnataka border dispute and attended by a delegation of around 20 to 25 membersIt described claims of secret political discussions during the meeting as ldquoridiculousrdquoThe editorial also defended NCP SP leader Jayant Patil over reports of his interaction with BJP leader Vinod Tawde at a Mumbai hotel It referred to Patilrsquos clarification that he had gone to meet MP Supriya Sule during a break in a Parliamentary Committee meeting where Tawde was also present as a committee memberThackeray camp criticises BJPrsquos political strategyThe Shiv Sena UBT alleged that normal interactions between elected representatives were being used to create confusion within the opposition allianceThe editorial claimed that Maharashtrarsquos political decisionmaking process had changed and alleged that important decisions were being controlled by central leadershipIt further accused the BJP of weakening opposition parties through political pressure financial influence and the use of central agenciesThe editorial claimed that joining the NDA at this stage would be ldquopolitical suiciderdquo for any regional partyEditorial questions government over key issuesThe Thackerayled party also criticised the state government over governance and lawandorder issuesThe editorial accused Fadnavis of not speaking strongly enough on serious incidents and referred to the recent alleged assault on a female doctor in Thane district by people reportedly linked to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shindersquos partyIt claimed that instead of focusing on important governance matters the Chief Minister was giving attention to political developments and speculationThe editorial concluded by alleging that political uncertainty in Maharashtra was being driven by decisions taken outside the state and called for greater focus on public issuesWith inputs from IANS