Ever since the Congress, the NCP and Shiv Sena formed an unholy alliance in the state of Maharashtra, it was being anticipated that the coalition will not last very long due to the inherent contradictions in ideological matters. Contrary to such prophecies, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government has managed to survive thus far.
However, the coalition could now run into trouble over Aaditya Thackeray’s ever-increasing role in governmental matters.
According to The Print, Aaditya Thackeray has emerged as his father’s shadow in the state of Maharashtra.
Aaditya Thackeray has been an omnipresent face in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. From sports to education, and handling the COVID-19 crisis and Cyclone Nisarga, the third-generation politician has been taking up the leadership role everywhere.
The Print has quoted sources as saying that the 30-year old Thackeray scion is in contact with senior civil servants and “reviews” the Coronavirus situation in districts that are being overseen by his senior cabinet colleagues. Aaditya is said to have emerged as the most powerful person within the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet.
The extraordinary presence of Aaditya Thackeray does not go in line with his mandate as a State Cabinet Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Protocol. Yet the 30-year old is said to have become a regular feature at government meetings that have nothing to do with his portfolios.
Only last week, Aaditya tweeted, “This morning I met with Minister for Education Varsha Gaikwad ji over issues relating to school education with regards to covid response, right from fees to online classes and SoPs. She’s actively been working on all of them and will see results on these issues soon.”
This morning I met with Minister for Education @VarshaEGaikwad ji over issues relating to school education with regards to covid response, right from fees to online classes and SoPs. She’s actively been working on all of them and will see results on these issues soon
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 16, 2020
Aditya Thackeray is the Minister-in-charge of suburban Mumbai but he is known to hold “review meetings” in other districts being handled by senior Ministers.
On July 4 for example, the Thackeray scion tweeted, “Today I was in Kalyan to interact on Covid Response with Municipal Commissioners of Kalyan- Dombivali, Navi Mumbai, Mira Bhayandar, Bhiwandi and officials of Ambernath Nagar Parishad.”
This afternoon, I visited Thane Municipal Corporation to take stock of the covid response and interact with Municipal Commissioners of Thane, Ulhasnagar, Mira Bhayandar & AMC of Kalyan- Dombivali, along with Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde ji. (1/n) pic.twitter.com/evuPrbd973
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 4, 2020
On July 11, Aaditya again tweeted, “Today I was in Kalyan to interact on Covid Response with Municipal Commissioners of Kalyan- Dombivali, Navi Mumbai, Mira Bhayandar, Bhiwandi and officials of Ambernath Nagar Parishad.”
Today I was in Kalyan to interact on Covid Response with Municipal Commissioners of Kalyan- Dombivali, Navi Mumbai, Mira Bhayandar, Bhiwandi and officials of Ambernath Nagar Parishad. (1/n) pic.twitter.com/rV7ZOMYw0U
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 11, 2020
Even on the issue of Cyclone Nisarga, Aaditya Thackeray was seen taking the lead. On June 2, he tweeted, “This morning, I had a detailed review of the preparations to handle the incoming #CycloneNisarga with the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai Chahal ji and all the AMCs, DMCs and ACs for all wards.”
This morning, I had a detailed review of the preparations to handle the incoming #CycloneNisarga with the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai Chahal ji and all the AMCs, DMCs and ACs for all wards. While we fight covid, we are prepping ourselves to also deal with cyclone.
(1/n)— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 2, 2020
After the Cyclone caused damage in Raigad, the 30-year old Minister again tweeted, “I have also been speaking to Collector Raigad, Nidhi Choudhary ji. 5 teams of @NDRFHQ are on their way to Srivardhan.”
I have also been speaking to Collector Raigad, Nidhi Choudhary ji. 5 teams of @NDRFHQ are on their way to Srivardhan.
All major roads have been cleared of tree falls.
An estimation of damage to homes, electricity lines & crops has begun.
Electricity lines will be restored soon— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 3, 2020
Even on the issue of bringing back the people of Maharashtra state who are stuck in other countries, it is Aaditya Thackeray who has been communicating with the Central authorities.
As per The Print report, the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition partners- NCP and the Congress do not seem very comfortable with Aaditya’s omnipresence. The news portal has claimed that sources from the NCP and the Congress suggested that Aaditya Thackeray’s role in the government amounted to interference.
In fact, the online media house has quoted a senior Congress Minister as saying, “No other minister attends meetings of other departments or holds meetings with other departments. He is holding meetings across the board. Why? Are the rest of us incapable?”
As per the report, an NCP Minister has also expressed concern about Aaditya’s increasing significance. The NCP Minister said, “He is young and enthusiastic and is helping his father,” but added, “It will concern us if he is on the throne. The Thackerays will stay in line as long as Pawar saheb (NCP chief Sharad Pawar) is advising them.”
It isn’t far-fetched that the Congress and the NCP might not be comfortable with Aaditya becoming the face of the Maharashtra government.
We must not lose sight of the fact that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance is a superficial coalition. The electoral mandate was in favour of a BJP-Shiv Sena government. As a result, the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, and NCP, in particular, would not fancy the Thackeray scion taking up the leadership role.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance government has survived until now against all odds. But Aaditya Thackeray’s towering stature might prove to be the last straw.
