BJP challenges CM Uddhav Thackeray to replace Eknath Shinde over rising Covid-19 cases in Thane

THANE: BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Monday took a swipe at the Shiv Sena, and challenged chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to show equal promptness in replacing guardian minister Eknath Shinde for the rising Covid-19 cases in the lake city as was seen during the unceremonious transfer of former BMC chief Praveen Pardesi recently.
While addressing his partymen and media in Thane, Shelar on Monday blamed the Sena apathy in Thane for the dismal health condition here to which its former ally promptly hit back questioning the condition of patients in Pune and BJP ruled states and sought to know if the party was replacing the state chiefs there. “Sena is ruling here for the last several decades but the health infrastructure is pathetic,” he said.
“The city also has two cabinet ministers holding vital portfolios. Also, it may be noted the guardian minister's constituency is incidentally the worst affected in Thane city. If there has to be justice then the chief minister should be holding Shinde accountable for the rising numbers here and show the same agility that was shown in promptly shunting out Pardesi as the Mumbai civic chief,” added Shelar.
The BJP further clawed into the Sena seeking clarification on how despite the frequent transfers of key senior officials, deployment of three IAS bureaucrats has consistently failed to control the spike in cases here. Shelar also posed serious doubts about the decision on reopening of schools and not conducting final year exams claiming it to affect students.
The party also sought to know if housing minister Jitendra Awhad was authorised to announce health centres in SRA buildings saying it was the prerogative of the urban development department. He alleged a ploy to reduce open space in all future residential projects through the new unified development control rules for metros.
Meanwhile, Sena leader and Thane mayor Naresh Mhaske hit back and dared the BJP to openly announce the situation in Uttar Pradesh and Gujrat adding that the governments there were hiding the facts. “The death rate in Thane is lesser than Pune where the BJP is in power. Also, the situation in Maharashtra is much better than what it is in Gujarat and UP where the ratio of positive cases and tests conducted is skewed,” said Mhaske.