Shinde camp ministers voice anger in Cabinet over fund allocation, accuse finance officials of high-handedness

Ministers from the Shinde camp raised the issue of fund allocation directly with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and expressed their displeasure at a Cabinet meeting chaired by him, according to sources. The meeting was discussing several issues.

Sources said the anger is over the arbitrary conduct of officials. Shiv Sena ministers complained to the Chief Minister that some finance department officials were throwing their weight around. Shinde's ministers asked who had given these officials the authority to cut funds sanctioned by the government.

According to sources, the ministers have also demanded action against such officials. All eyes are now on what decision the Chief Minister takes. It is also being said that the issue could lead to friction between the two parties in the state.

The audio clip played by Manoj Jarange Patil is also due to be discussed at the meeting. There are indications that the alleged audio clip could be raised there. Jarange Patil, who is associated with the Maratha reservation movement, had played the clip to Maharashtra, and serious allegations were made in it.

In the clip, one speaker claims that the BJP gave Eknath Shinde Rs 500 crore to manage Jarange. It is said that all the speakers in the clip are linked to the BJP. After playing the clip, Jarange had directly challenged Eknath Shinde to answer whether he had taken Rs 500 crore. He had also asked whom the BJP was playing against, "you or me".

Eknath Shinde had clarified that he had no connection with the clip and had not taken Rs 500 crore. The controversy did not subside, however. Shinde camp leader Ramdas Kadam attacked the BJP over the clip. BJP leaders Pravin Darekar and Prasad Lad had replied to Kadam. The alleged audio clip thus came to represent a tussle between the BJP and the Shinde camp.

It is believed that its impact could be seen in today's Cabinet meeting. It remains to be seen whether the Shinde camp ministers press the issue or let it go.