Maharashtra CM's son spotted in a chair at Varsha, opposition calls it a takeover in Eknath Shinde's absence

MUMBAI: The 'seat of power' can sometimes take a literal meaning. A picture showing chief minister Eknath Shinde's son and MP Shrikant Shinde ensconced in a chair at the CM's official residence Varsha caused a controversy on Friday, with a section of NCP and Congress leaders seeking an apology for his use of fixtures reserved for the highest elected office in Maharashtra.
Shrikant Shinde reacted saying the criticism was uncalled for as the chair on which he was photographed was part of the Shinde family's furniture, "the chair does not belong to Mantralaya or Varsha." And lest someone thinks he was using it for photo-ops, he said he was "looking after the CM's work in his absence...my father and myself, we meet thousands of people to address their grievances.''
Shinde pointed out that he has been elected to Lok Sabha for consecutive terms and is aware of protocol and rules. The chair in the picture is at the private residence of the CM, it is not the official chamber of the CM, the room is used by the CM for video conferences...the opposition has no issues, it is raising irrelevant issues,'' Shinde said.
Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar surprisingly came to his defence, saying it was indeed the private residence of the CM and there was no need to make an issue of who was sitting on which chair. It is the internal matter of the Shinde family, it is their private residence,'' Pawar said even as his party spokesperson Mahesh Tapase asked Shinde to tender an unconditional apology to the people of Maharashtra.
In the recent past, Shrikant Shinde has emerged as a super CM,'' Tapase said. Not only was he occupying the CM's designated chair, he was issuing orders to officials. His behaviour is unfortunate, it was expected of him that he would follow protocol norms,'' Tapase said. State Congress President Nana Patole called it a "mockery of democracy" that while the father was away in Delhi, the son was trying to take his place in the chair and controlling the administration.