Maharashtra: Shiv Sena refutes news of minister Sattar's resignation

Within days of the formation of the government, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government appears to have suffered a setback with Sena minister Abdul Sattar reportedly putting in his papers, Saturday (January 4). But the party has categorically denied any such development.

The former Congressman, who joined the Shiv Sena just ahead of the assembly elections, is an MLA from Sillod in Aurangabad district. He is said to be upset over not having been made a cabinet minister but a minister of state.

Speaking to media, Sattar’s son Sameer Sattar said, ” I have no information about this. Only he can speak about it and I am sure he will speak soon. Better to wait and watch,”

However, the Sena leader’s decision is yet to be accepted by his party. “We haven’t received his resignation,” said senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde.

Senior Shiv Sena leaders said that they are not aware of Sattar’s resignation. Senior Sena functionary Anil Desai said that Sattar has not resigned. However, according to NDTV, Sena’s Arjun Khotkar was sent on behalf of the party to meet Sattar and pacify him. Khotkar, who met Sattar at a hotel in Aurangabad did not comment on the matter before leaving.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, “The Maharashtra government has no information about the minister’s resignation. There are no differences in the cabinet. If any minister resigns, normally the resignation is sent to the chief minister or Raj Bhawan. But we have no information about it so far,” he added.

Reports indicate that Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will have a word with Sattar, in an apparent bid, to mollify him. Earlier, there were murmurs in the Congress camp too over some people having been left out of the cabinet.

The Shiv Sena, which fought the assembly polls in the company of the BJP, dumped its ally and joined hands with the Congress and the NCP to form a coalition.

(With inputs from agencies)