Hours after Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut claimed that there was a debate within the BJP to replace Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his failure to handle the Maratha reservations issue, Maharashtra’s two senior Ministers said categorically on Wednesday evening that there would not be any change in the State leadership.

Dismissing Raut’s claim and reposing full confidence on Fadnavis, State Revenue Minister Chandrkant Patil said: “The question of replacing the Chief Minister does not arise. During the last four years of our rule inthe state, Fadnavis had never shown any ill-will towards any individuals or communities. He is concerned and committed to giving reservations to Maratha community members”.

“There is absolutely no talk within the party about replacing the Chief Minister. Whatever decisions that have been taken (vis-a-vis the demands by the Maratha organisations) are collective in nature. Our party’s ideology is to take every community along with us,” State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said.

No change in State leadership: Maha BJP