As BJP's troubles mount, Shiv Sena hints at a political conspiracy as cause

Amidst controversy engulfing the BJP government in Maharashtra over allegations against its ministers, its ally Shiv Sena has said it needs to be explored why such such issues were emerging within a year of the new government coming to power.

Sena further said that accusations against the ministers shows that "politics is being played to put a halt to their ambitions".

"BJP is in trouble at the Centre and in the state. The problems it is facing at the central level can be kept aside as there are two leaders like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to take care of them."

"But Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will have a hard time dealing with the kind of serious issues facing the party in Maharashtra," Sena said in an editorial in the party mouthpiece, 'Saamana'.

"Everyday, somebody is being accused of wrongdoing and Fadnavis has to defend them. It needs to be explored why the crackers are bursting within one year of the party coming to power in the state," it added.

Sena said BJP's problems started with a fake degree row involving state water supply and sanitation minister Babanrao Lonikar followed by similar allegations being levelled against state education minister Vinod Tawde.

Now, women and child development minister Pankaja Munde has been accused of awarding contracts without inviting tenders, it added.

"Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde were both claimants to the post of chief minister in future. If this angle is explored, it can be seen that politics is being played to put a halt to their ambitions," the Sena said.

Fadnavis is an able chief minister who will continue to defend his ministers without getting tired of the opposition's charges and will keep governing the state with high morals and clean politics, it averred.