Mumbai: Discontent is brewing within the Shiv Sena, with cabinet minister for EGS Bharat Gogawale openly expressing his unhappiness on Sunday after losing out on the Raigad guardian minister‘s post to women and child welfare minister Aditi Tatkare of NCP. “This has come as a shock. It is not acceptable, and difficult to digest,’ he told the media, his voice trembling with emotion.
“All the six MLAs in the region, three each from the Shiv Sena and three from the BJP, were supporting me.In the district, the sentiment was that I would get the post,” said Gogawale. Responding to reports that local Shiv Sainiks had sent in their resignation over the issue, he said, “The people on the ground are unhappy. There is an outburst over this.”
He said he would speak to deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. “Finally, he is our leader, and I will have to accept his decision,” he said. Gogawale is a four-term MLA from Mahad in Raigad. He lost out on a cabinet berth in the last Mahayuti govt despite being among the first to join Shinde when he split the Shiv Sena. Gogawale finally made it to the cabinet after the state polls last year. However, his bid for the Raigad guardian ministry in the three-party alliance did not succeed.
Others within the Shiv Sena are also upset at losing the post to the NCP. “There has been unfairness displayed towards senior party ministers like Gogawale and Dada Bhuse. They have been loyal workers of the party. I will speak to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde,” said water supply minister from the Shiv Sena, Gulabrao Patil. He has been given the post of guardian minister of Jalgaon.
Some within the party have openly referred to the pressure tactics of the Tatkare family in wresting the Raigad guardian ministry. “Gogawale fully deserved the post. This is the result of the pressure tactics of the Tatkare family,” alleged Shiv Sena Alibaug MLA Mahendra Dalvi. Aditi Tatkare’s father is Raigad MP and state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare. He is a close aide of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. When asked about Gogawale, he said, “No decision makes everyone happy. Finally, we all have to accept the chief minister’s decision.”
