Wadettiwar tells Mungantiwar one of them should become Chief Minister, video goes viral

A brief exchange between Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar is circulating widely on social media. In the video, captured on a mobile phone camera, Wadettiwar is seen shaking hands. "We are both Wars... one of us should become Chief Minister," Wadettiwar said. The remark has caused a stir in political circles.

The meeting took place in the Raiyatwari Colony area of Chandrapur city, where a Badakamma festival of Telugu speakers was held yesterday. BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar was leaving the event after attending it, just as Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar was coming in. The two met for a few moments.

In the video, Wadettiwar is seen shaking hands with a smile and sharing his "Mann Ki Baat" with Mungantiwar. Mungantiwar responded to Wadettiwar's good wishes with a hearty laugh. Speculation has since surged over the video, with talk of whether the two leaders are cooking up something different.

Everyone, whether in power or in the opposition, wishes to hold the state's highest office. In the recent past, there was also a race to put up banners wishing one's leader well for the Chief Minister's post. Some leaders had spoken openly of their wish for the post.

Talk about Mungantiwar has been going on for some time. When the government was formed in the state under Fadnavis, it was said Mungantiwar would get an important responsibility. That did not happen. He was kept out of the ministry. He was upset over this and voiced his displeasure from time to time. On many occasions he also held up a mirror directly to the government. Mungantiwar has repeatedly made clear that he will not go anywhere. However, with Wadettiwar making this direct statement yesterday amid a huge crowd and workers of both parties crowding around, the talk has surged again.

Meanwhile, Vijay Wadettiwar has sharply criticised the state government over the attack on Tiger Shroff yesterday. Wadettiwar said the attack was a failure of the government. After the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the attack, Vijay Wadettiwar, the Leader of the Opposition and MLA, directly criticised Home Minister and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Wadettiwar said the rise of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's empire in a sensitive city like Mumbai in this manner was a failure of the government. He had also asked: "Is the government itself behind this empire?"