Mumbai, July 15: Political speculation has surged in Maharashtra following a late-night meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and NCP (SP) leader and MLA Jayant Patil at the CM’s official residence, ‘Varsha’. On Wednesday, Patil dismissed all rumors, clarifying the true context of their discussion.
Patil explained that his meeting was solely related to an administrative issue concerning his constituency, specifically a case involving threats of vandalism. He stated, “I requested time to meet the Chief Minister regarding a local issue in my constituency.”
He also detailed the sequence of events at the Chief Minister’s residence. Upon arriving at ‘Varsha’, he had to wait in the hall due to Fadnavis’s prior commitments. When the Chief Minister arrived, Patil noted that he was engaged in back-to-back meetings. During their brief 5-10 minute discussion, Patil presented his concerns, and the Chief Minister assured him that he would look into the matter.
Patil further mentioned that the issue falls under the urban development department, which is managed by the Chief Minister’s office. He had initially attempted to contact former Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, but his phone was off due to a trip to Delhi. Consequently, Patil decided to meet with the Chief Minister directly.
He categorically stated that there had been no meetings or discussions with NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare or Praful Patel. “If such a meeting had occurred, I would openly acknowledge it,” he asserted. Patil firmly rejected any discussions regarding party mergers or political restructuring, emphasizing that such talks have completely ceased.
“We are all united with Sharad Pawar. It saddens me that the media continues to spread speculative news,” he added.
When asked if he is in the running for the state’s finance minister position, Patil laughed off the question. “I haven’t even thought about it, so why are you thinking so far ahead? The allocation of departments is entirely the Chief Minister’s prerogative. Speculating in this manner undermines the Chief Minister’s authority,” he concluded.
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