Mumbai: Leader of the Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar on Tuesday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at his official bungalow. Pawar drove to Varsha, located in the posh Malabar Hill area in south Mumbai and had a lengthy discussion with him. The two leaders held talks over multiple issues including Enforcement Directorate raids on former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh as well as the Covid situation in the state.
The meeting has sparked new debate in the political corridors as sources believe that Pawar is disappointed with Thackeray after he cancelled the allotment of 100 rooms for the relatives of cancer patients by the state housing department which were inaugurated by Pawar. However, the scheme was later approved. Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad had launched a scheme to provide 100 rooms in the Lalbagh area to the relatives of cancer patients but the decision was reviewed after local MLA Ajay Chaudhary raised the issue with the Chief Minister.
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Sources said that Anil Deshmukh's case was the centre point of the meeting. If allegations against him are proved then it might tarnish the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state. The two leaders discussed the actions taken against the former state home minister, they added. Deshmukh has been accused of pressuring the police officials to collect Rs 100 crore from pubs and bars in Mumbai city. He has been charged with extortion and bribery.
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