Fadnavis Meets NCP Leaders Jayant Patil and Sunil Tatkare at Varsha in Mumbai
A late-night meeting on Tuesday between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders at the Chief Minister's official residence 'Varsha' in Mumbai has triggered intense political speculation.
The meeting with NCP leaders Jayant Patil, Sunil Tatkare, and Praful Patel has fueled discussions about an impending Cabinet expansion, potential political realignments, and the allocation of the state's Finance portfolio.
According to sources, Tatkare and Patel arrived at 'Varsha' first on Tuesday night, followed by Jayant Patil. The three leaders held discussions with Chief Minister Fadnavis for over an hour. While the details of the meeting remain undisclosed, the interaction has sparked speculation about the possibility of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP moving closer to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The future of the Finance portfolio is a key point of focus. The department was previously held by the NCP led by the late Ajit Pawar and was retained by Fadnavis after Ajit Pawar's demise. Reports suggest that Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar's NCP faction is keen to reclaim the department, while Jayant Patil's name has also surfaced due to his past experience as Maharashtra's Finance Minister.
However, Jayant Patil dismissed the political speculation surrounding his visit. Speaking to the media, Patil clarified that his meeting with the Chief Minister was entirely unrelated to the presence of Tatkare and Patel. Patil stated that he had sought an appointment with Fadnavis specifically to discuss the disqualification of the Islampur Municipal Council president.
Patil maintained that he met the Chief Minister for only about five minutes. He added that he was unaware Tatkare and Patel were present at 'Varsha' and denied holding any prior meeting with them.
Following the meeting at the Chief Minister's residence, Sunil Tatkare reportedly met with Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar at her official residence on Tuesday. While no official statement has been issued by any of the leaders, political observers believe these developments could have significant implications for Maharashtra's political equations.
