Uddhav Thackeray meets Sharad Pawar in NCP (SP) chief's Mumbai home amid discord in MVA over local polls

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray met Nationalist Congress Party NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Monday amid differences among the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA over contesting the ensuing local body polls in Maharashtra news agency PTI reportedThackeray drove to the former Union Ministers residence at Silver Oak in South Mumbai and met him for more than an hour party sources saidThe veteran politician who is the architect of the opposition coalition has stepped in to calm the turbulence within MVA and recently said he would convene a meeting of the combines three constituents to discuss contesting the upcoming local body elections PTI reportedShiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has declared it will contest the local body elections aloneAccording to PTI Pawar recently pointed out that the mandate of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance INDIA bloc at the centre and MVA in Maharashtra is to contest elections together at the national and state level respectively and not at the local levelWe have never discussed or suggested contesting together at the local selfgovernment level Pawar had saidThe political allies traditionally contest local elections independently but the Sena UBTs decision to go solo for the polls has triggered speculation about the viability of the alliance comprising the Sena UBT NCP Sharadchandra Pawar and CongressEknath Shindes political position shaky someone else may lead Shiv Sena Congress leaderCongress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday claimed that Deputy Chief Minister CM Eknath Shinde might be dispensed with and Shiv Sena could see a new Uday rise an oblique reference to state minister Uday SamantThe Maharashtra Congress leader was reacting to speculation about Shindes unhappiness over the appointment of guardian ministers by CM Devendra Fadnavis news agency PTI reportedShinde has left for his village in Satara district for a personal visit sources saidEknath Shindes situation is very bad in the current political scenario It seems Shinde may be sidelined I wonder if Shindes political utility is over Shindeji was brought in by pushing out Uddhav ji Thackeray the Congress leader told reporters in NagpurIn a veiled attack on Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Wadettiwar also claimed that a political situation may shape up in Maharashtra with the possibility of a third Uday rise of Shiv Sena PTI reportedOne Uday is sailing in both boats and maintained very good relations with both sides he claimed hinting at a possible takeover of the party by state industries minister Uday SamantApart from the BJP and Shindeheaded Shiv Sena the Mahayuti also comprises the Nationalist Congress Party NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit PawarThe state government led by Fadnavis on January 18 announced guardian ministers for 36 districts in Maharashtra However a day later the appointments for Nashik and Raigad were stayedNCPs Aditi Tatkare was appointed as the guardian minister for Raigad irking Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogawale PTI reported Meanwhile BJP leader Girish Mahajan was given the responsibility of Nashik districtAmid reports of discontent Ministers Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Girish Mahajan both from BJP have left for Daregaon to meet Shinde and address his concerns CM Fadnavis is currently in Davos to attend the World Economic ForumMeanwhile Wadettiwar said a decision on appointing Maharashtra Congress President and the party group leader will be taken within the next eight daysWith PTI inputs