Maharashtra: BJP-Sena bickering, charges against ministers made news

MUMBAI: Bickerings in ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance with the rift many a time on public display, allegations against several ministers, farmers' woes, Yakub Memon hanging and dance bar-related issues dominated headlines in Maharashtra in 2015.

Visits by bigwigs including Prime Minister Narendra Modi to NCP chief Sharad Pawar's home turf Baramati also made news.

The Devendra Fadnavis-led government, which completed a year in office on October 31, has been beset with internal squabbles with the Sena, which joined the ministry in December last year.

The rift within the ruling alliance was on public display ahead of the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation elections. Sena president Uddhav Thackeray then threatened to withdraw support to the government if the BJP does not shed its "arrogance".

Fadnavis, in turn, told the Sena not to undermine the BJP and declared that his party was not "wearing bangles".

Putting behind the rancour of the bitterly-fought election, Sena and BJP later decided to share power in the civic body following a hung verdict.

In October, amid the widening rift between the ruling allies, the Shiv Sena stayed away from Modi's functions in Mumbai including the 'bhoomipujan' for the international memorial for Babasaheb Ambedkar and the ground-breaking for two Metro railway lines.

Thackeray, cold-shouldered by the BJP for the functions -- his name was missing from the initial official list of dignitaries attending the event -- chose to visit Beed in drought-affected Marathwada, where the party disbursed aid to distressed farmers.

In February, Pawar invited Modi to Baramati in western Maharashtra, fuelling speculation in political circles and followed it up eight months later by hosting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at his home.

While Modi had attacked Pawar during Maharashtra elections last year and called the NCP the "Naturally Corrupt Party," the February visit sparked off a new bonhomie where the prime minister sang a different tune.

Calling Pawar an experienced leader, he said, "I speak to Sharad Pawar more than two times a month. Sharad Pawar has always thought of farmers plight."

Jaitley, who attended a series of functions at Baramati and Pune, even stayed overnight at Pawar's Govind Baug residence near Baramati.

Modi also attended a grand celebration in the national capital on the occasion of Pawar turning 75 and lauded the NCP chief's political acumen.