Shiv Sena may get deputy chief minister post soon

With an eye on the Assembly polls Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had asked for the chief ministers post for the party a demand which the BJP hasnt yet agreed to on record However sources say the BJP is likely to offer the deputy chief ministers post to the party for the remaining termWhile word about this has informally reached the Sena camp as a senior Sena leader informed rumours of a cabinet reshuffle after the Lok Sabha poll results have also raised the hopes of some Sena leaders of a promotion in the government He said things could turn tricky within the Sena if the offer is accepted or rejectedMeanwhile if the information gathered in the corridors of Mantralaya is to be believed then the BJP government is also preparing to offer farmers a complete waiver and expand the relief to debtridden farmers who availed loans till last yearA large number of farmers and tribals held a rally in Mumbai for their demands including loan waiver in 2018 File picThe development is significant in the runup to the Assembly polls scheduled for October this year It also augurs well for the renewed bonhomie between the ruling partners because the primary condition that the Shiv Sena had imposed while joining hands with the party in the Lok Sabha elections was that the BJP grants unconditional loan waiver to all farmers in debt Sources said the unconditional part of it the existing relief scheme has a cap could be a contentious issue but the farmers who sought loans in 2017 and 2018 too would get a waiver under the current scheme The modalities are being worked out said sourcesDrought a poll issueThe waiver extension means great relief to farmers affected by the worst drought The water and fodder scarcity has taken a toll on agro economics of the state and it had become a poll plank in the rural areas Though several other issues also prevailed in the poll campaign the Lok Sabha results to be made public on May 23 would help analyse the scale of the impact of the agrarian crisisThe Devendra Fadnavis government seems to have factored in the intensity of the attack that the Opposition would continue even in the run up to the Assembly polls and ensuing campaign The declaration and implementation of the new scheme before the model code of conduct gets enforced should help Fadnavis tame the opposition and also keep up ties with Sena that had been championing the cause of farmers by speaking against its own governmentSo far more than Rs 18000 crore have been given to the 4340 lakh farmers under the waiver scheme The implementation was severely criticised for the delays in dispensation and shortcomings The debt availed till March 2016 has been serviced by the government The extended scheme would apply to the crop loan accounts that operated in 2017 and 2018 as wellOther than having a half share of 288 Assembly seats as mentioned earlier Sena president Thackeray had asked for the CMs post for the party the condition the BJP hasnt yet agreed to on recordDy CM for SenaHowever sources said the BJP is likely to offer the deputy CMs post to the Sena for the remaining term till October and also give Thackeray a couple of Cabinet berths While this information has informally reached the Sena camp as a senior Sena leader said he added that rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle after the LS poll results have made some Sena leaders very hopeful of a promotion in the government He said things could turn tricky within the Sena if the offer was accepted or rejected Accepting the offer would result in fierce competition between Sena hopefuls and resentment in those who arent given the post Rejecting it would mean the chief doesnt want any deserving candidate elevated he saidOn Tuesday evening Thackeray his son Aaditya industry minister Subhash Desai and party secretary Milind Narvekar travelled to New Delhi to attend the dinner hosted for NDA partners by BJP president Amit ShahCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates