Shiv Sangram leader likely to quit alliance

Mumbai: Shiv Sangram leader Vinayak Mete is set to part ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance. Mr Mete is likely to withdraw his support to the BJP in Beed zila parishad (district committee). Mr Mete was a Nationalist Congress Party member but he ditched it for the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections in 2014. He wanted to be a minister in the state Cabinet, but the BJP failed to keep its promise. So, a furious Mr Mete is now trying to return to the NCP fold. But there is also strong opposition to him.  

When Mr Mete joined the BJP-led alliance back he was an NCP MLC and deputy chairman of the state organisation. He was promised ministership if the BJP were voted to power. Though nothing came of it, he kept his hopes up until this Diwali, as there was some buzz of a Cabinet reshuffle around that time. But, now he is mulling withdrawing from the alliance.

The first step of his exit could be withdrawing support to the BJP in the Beed ZP. In the body of 60 members, Mr Mete holds to key of power with five members while the BJP has 22, NCP has 18, another group in the NCP has three, Shiv Sena has four, Congress three and another in the BJP has five in the body. So, if Mr Mete withdraws his support. It could lead to instability in district politics.

Beed has been an important district for the BJP. Cabinet minister Pankaja Munde comes from the district. Five out of six party MLAs are from the district and also LS member. In such a case, Mr Mete leaving BJP’s fold could disturb the equations in the district as well as the Marathwada region too.

“I have not taken a final decision yet. But the BJP is trying to poach my members in Beed district. This is not done. I will talk to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis before taking any decision,” said Mr Mete.