Hegde's claims on Fadnavis "treachery of Maha", says Sanjay Raut

The Shiv Sena on Monday (December 2) described BJP MP Ananthkumar Hegde’s claim that Devendra Fadnavis was made the chief minister last month despite lacking majority, only to protect the ₹40,000 crore central funds from being misused, as “treachery of Maharashtra”.

Calling the purported act of Fadnavis as treachery, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that Fadnavis and the BJP were “criminals” of people of Maharashtra. The state Chief Secretary and CM Uddhav Thackeray will clarify this issue, Raut said.

Reacting to Hegde’s claim, Fadnavis said, “No such major policy decision has been taken by me as CM. All such allegations are false.”

Hegde claimed Fadnavis was made the chief minister of Maharashtra last month despite lacking majority only to protect ₹40,000 crore central funds under the CM’s control from being misused.

Also read: Fadnavis rejects Hegde’s claim on ₹40,000 crore central funds

Days after Fadnavis resigned barely 80 hours after taking oath for the second time as chief minister, Hegde, known for making controversial statements, sought to give a new twist to the episode describing the government formation by the BJP as a drama played out to ensure that the funds meant for development works were protected.

“You all know that recently in Maharashtra for just 80 hours our person was Chief Minister, but soon Fadnavis resigned. Why did we have to do this drama? Didn’t we know despite knowing we don’t have the majority, why did he become CM? This is the question commonly every one asks,” Hegde said at a meeting, reportedly during the campaign in bypoll-bound Yellapur in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka on Saturday (November 30).

The Congress too, on Monday demanded an answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Hegde’s claim. “A union minister has exposed the Modi government. BJPs anti-Maharashtra face has been exposed. Has the federal structure been crushed? Was the Rs 40,000 crore earmarked for the welfare of the public and farmers withdrawn through a conspiracy? Prime Minister Reply!,” tweeted Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in Hindi.