After threat to quit, Uddhav calls disgruntled Maharashtra minister

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 4

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called his disgruntled minister Abdul Sattar for a meeting on Sunday after the latter reportedly announced that he was resigning after being denied a cabinet rank.

“Abdul Sattar will get over his disappointment after a meeting with Uddhav Thackeray,” Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut told reporters here. Earlier on Friday at least two senior leaders from the Shiv Sena including former Member of Parliament Chandrakant Khaire who also hails from Aurangabad like Sattar had a meeting with the minister in order to pacify him, according to sources.

Aides of Sattar, who refused to speak the press, had briefed reporters from television channels here that the minister had sent in his resignation to Raj Bhavan. However, Raj Bhavan sources indicated it had received no resignation letter from anyone till late afternoon.

Sattar, a three-time MLA, had switched over to the Shiv Sena from the Congress ahead of the assembly election.

Resentment is running high among MLAs from the Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress who have been left out of the cabinet. Thackeray is yet to distribute portfolios among his 36-member team as the three parties which are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government are still squabbling amongst themselves.

Meanwhile ministers from the Congress who had sought yet another meeting with the party leadership over distribution of portfolios were snubbed by the high command, according to sources.

“Congress MLAs and ministers have been told that state party chief Balasaheb Thorat has been given the responsibility to sort out issues in Maharashtra,” a party leader said.