After all the fretting and fuming over its role in the new Government in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray has agreed to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s first Chief Minister in the State.
It appears that Mr. Thackeray was persuaded by senior BJP leaders including the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to be present at the ceremony at the iconic Wankhede stadium, where among others the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be there.
That the Sena has not given up hopes of making a come-back into the BJP alliance fold was evident earlier in the day. However, whether it would agree to terms which the BJP would decide for its inclusion in the government is to be seen.
An editorial in Samna-mouth-piece of the Sena-on Friday chose to target the Congress for attacking the BJP for the reportedly `huge expenditure` being incurred on the much publicised oath taking ceremony.
After all its efforts to convince the BJP to include a content of its nominees in the government failed, the Sena on Thursday evening had announced that it has chosen not to participate in the oath ceremony as the party was not treated with dignity.
“Some Congress leaders have criticized the amount that will be spent on this program. This is an indication of their defeated state of mind,” said an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna.
Several activists and political leaders have criticized the BJP for spending crores of rupees of government’s money over the swearing in ceremony which will take place in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium.
The party has invited large number of celebrities from sports, Bollywood and industry. Well-known designer Nitin Chandrakant Desai has been given the task of setting up a stage for the program. A special cultural program will also be held prior to the ceremony.
The editorial said that those who are responsible to take this state on the path of bankruptcy through their corruption cases of thousands of crores are now shouting against the expenditure of this program. “This is ridiculous,” it said.
Claiming that the previous governments are responsible for a debt of Rs 3.5 lakh crore against the state, the editorial said that today’s swearing in ceremony is to wipe out the sins committed in last 15 years of rule.
Extending best wishes to the Chief Minister designate, Devendra Fadanvis, the editorial said that he must work to work to stop the outflow of money from Mumbai to other states. “Maharashtra’s identity in last 15 years was of a state of scams. This swearing in ceremony will bring a new start and therefore the program must be of great standard,” it said.
