Shah may seek report on scams in Mumbai

He's also expected to discuss with state BJP leaders the differences with Shiv Sena

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah is expected to hold a meeting with party leaders in Mumbai on July 9 amid attacks from the Opposition and alliance partner Shiv Sena for the alleged involvement of senior ministers in various scams in Maharashtra.

Scams over fake degrees, a Rs 206 crore chikki and purchase of other items, and a Rs 191 crore contract for the procurement of fire extinguishers have turned the spotlight on ministers Vinod Tawde, Pankaja Munde and Babanrao Lonikar. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has said the charges against Munde are quite serious. The woman and child welfare ministry, which Munde heads, has been accused of bypassing the tendering process for the purchase of items under the Integrated Child Development Scheme.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has provided his ministerial colleagues a clean chit and rejected the Opposition's demand for their resignation, may furnish his report to Shah about the current controversies.

Shah will review the performance of the eight-month-old BJP-led government at a time when the image of the party and the government has taken a serious beating.



Shah is likely to seek feedback from BJP office-bearers on the fallout of the attack by senior legislator and former minister Raj Purohit on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic policies. In a video, Purohit is shown to agree with the interviewer, whose identity is unknown, that Modi and Shah are the only ones wielding power in the BJP. Although the state BJP unit served Purohit a notice on July 27, the development has embarrassed the party.

'Shah's visit was planned. During a day-long meeting he will review the progress made on the BJP's programmes in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Daman and Diu,'' state party spokesman Keshav Upadhye told Business Standard.

A three-term BJP legislator, who did not want to be named, said Shah's visit was crucial as the party was in the midst of preparing a strategy to counter Opposition charges against ministers. ''The monsoon session will start on July 13. The Opposition has threatened to disrupt proceedings. Attempts will be made for a show of unity on the floor of the House.''



The legislator admitted the Shah and Fadnavis could also discuss a Cabinet expansion.

The widening gap between the BJP and the Sena is also likely to be taken up. Thackeray's statement that corruption was visible everywhere has not gone down well with the BJP.