Shinde tells Ramdas Kadam to stop speaking on Manoj Jarange Patil issue

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has informed Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam that he should not say anything more on the matter of Manoj Jarange Patil, it has emerged. Maratha agitator Manoj Jarange Patil had played an audio clip of a Rs 500 crore transaction. Since then there has been a stir in political circles and tension has built up within the Mahayuti as well.

Meanwhile, Kadam called a press conference and directly levelled allegations at BJP leaders. Showing a photograph of MLA Prasad Lad and Jarange Patil, he said the two were friends. Kadam had also said that the BJP was trying to suppress its ally. This has angered BJP leaders too.

After the clip surfaced, the exchange of charges between the BJP and Shinde's Shiv Sena has intensified. Minister Uday Samant tried to bring the two sides together. Even so, the atmosphere over the matter remains heated. It is being said that Shinde has clearly told Kadam not to comment further on the subject. Shinde's stand is reportedly that speaking on this should now stop.

This has set off discussion in political circles on whether Shinde wants to end the controversy here. It remains to be seen whether the exchange of charges between the BJP and Shinde's Shiv Sena after Jarange Patil's audio clip will end.

Has Kadam been left alone in the party? After his criticism over Jarange Patil's clip, Kadam is in the BJP's line of fire, but the other leaders of the party do not appear to be standing with him. After the criticism from BJP MLAs Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar, no Shiv Sena leader other than Minister Uday Samant has replied to the BJP legislators.

Kadam wrote to Modi, expressing his displeasure over a conspiracy by the ally. Afterwards, party leaders met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded an inquiry into the clip played by Jarange Patil. But no one is replying to the criticism of Kadam by BJP MLAs. This makes it clear that Kadam, who took on the BJP, has been left alone within his own party.

There is quiet talk of growing infighting within the Shiv Sena. In private conversations, leaders say that coordination among Mahayuti leaders is only in name and that in reality a fight over pride and slights is going on among the alliance's leaders. According to the leaders, the recent Legislative Council elections are the best example of this.