Shiv Sena ministers demand fair distribution of funds

Mumbai: A day after holding a meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, party ministers met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday demanding fair distribution of funds to MLAs. The Sena ministers also pushed for their demand for farmers’ loan waiver.

The CM assured them of playing fair in distribution of funds and assured of looking into the matter of loan waiver.

“Sena MLAs were getting less funds while BJP MLAs were given more funds. Henceforth, both the parties MLAs will get equal funds. The CM has assured us and the Assembly about the loan waiver,” Mr Kadam said after meeting the CM.

Another Sena leader and PWD minister Eknath Shinde said that the loan waiver would always be the party’s priority. “We are keen for the loan waiver and we will keep our fight on for the same. The CM has given assurance on the floor of the House. He also said that he would maintain balance while distributing funds to the MLAs. We are satisfied after speaking with the CM and he has also assured that he would not keep pending any works of the Shiv Sena MLAs,” Eknath Shinde said.

On Thursday late evening, Sena ministers met party chief and briefed him on the happenings of the on-going budget session. There were complaints about Shiv Sena’s MLAs being given lesser funds for development works compared to the BJP MLAs. The ministers also discussed about possibility of mid term polls in the state after it was reported that BJP was keen on holding the polls in December. Sources said that it was a deliberate attempt by the ruling party to create confusion and fear among Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP.

Shiv Sena had initially even supported the Congress and NCP over loan waiver to the farmers. However, later the Shiv Sena supported BJP and remained away from protests by the Opposition.