Uddhav, Pawar meet amid buzz of MVA rift

MUMBAI: Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil on Thursday said there was no “instability” in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government in the state.
NCP president Sharad Pawar met chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday evening, giving rise to speculation about tensions within the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance. “I don’t know what transpired in the meeting. But there is no question of instability in the government. New issues do crop up.... what is the connection between them and the government’s stability,” Patil said. On the Maratha quota issue, he said PM Modi should “take a decision in Parliament”.
“State BJP functionaries must pursue the matter with their central leadership,” he said when asked about the future of the quota which has been struck down by the Supreme Court. On lifting the current lockdown-like restrictions in the state on account of coronavirus pandemic, Patil said the issue of restrictions and Covid-19 numbers is discussed in the cabinet meeting every week. “Any decision will be taken only after discussions,” he said when asked if the restrictions will be eased after June 1