Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray refuses to get drawn into Malik-Wankhede row

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday sidestepped questions related to controversy over allegations made by his cabinet colleague Nawab Malik against Narcotics Control Bureau NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer WankhedeOn Covid19 he said the pace of vaccination has slowed down and added that a third wave of the pandemic will depend on new variants of coronavirusAsked about Maliks allegations against former CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis over alleged links with drug peddlers Thackeray remarked There are mutations in the allegations Lets see what happensEarlier in the day Malik tweeted a photograph of an alleged narcotics dealer with Fadnavis wife Amruta Fadnavis said Maliks tweet reflected his mentality and claimed he will ldquoburst a bombrdquo after Diwali by making revelations about the NCP ministers ldquounderworld linksrdquoIn an informal interaction with media persons ahead of Diwali Thackeray refused to comment on political issues and questions related to Maliks allegations against WankhedeThe IRS officer is in the eye of a political storm after Malik accused him of forging documents to get a government job lying about his religion and arresting people in bogus drugs cases Wankhede has denied all allegationsSpeaking on the coronavirus situation in the state he said The pace of vaccination has slowed down More awareness is necessary to expedite the vaccination drive A third wave is still unpredictable All depends on new variants and mutationsHe said Covid19 protocols must be followed though almost all restrictions related to coronavirus have been liftedThackeray whose threeparty coalition government will complete two years in office this monthend said he has not changed as a person after becoming CMThe chief minister lashed out at his critics for commenting that he has not been visiting Mantralaya state secretariat and working from thereI want to know what great work has been done by those who used to sit in Mantralaya he said without naming the BJP the main opposition party in the state and his former allyAsked about marriage plans for his son and cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray 31 the CM quipped First I would have to know his mann ki baatThe CM lamented his priorities as chief minister in coronavirus times have not allowed him to pursue his passion of photographyI have not done anything related to photography except keeping my cameras battery charged If things would have gone as decided I would have invited you to my photo exhibition said the Shiv Sena leader a photography enthusiastAfter the 2019 assembly polls the BJP and the Shiv Sena ended their partnership over differences on sharing power and the latter joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA governmentThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever