Fadnavis refuses to meet politicos seeking Mundhe’s removal

After he seemed to have thrown his weight behind Navi Mumbai civic chief Tukaram Mundhe, against whom a no confidence motion was passed by corporators, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday  refused to meet an all-party delegation seeking removal of the IAS officer from his post.

Earlier in the day, Mayor of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Sudhakar Sonawane led a team comprising members of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP to meet Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence here. 

“After meeting Thackeray, the delegation went to meet Fadnavis at his residence Varsha here, but he refused to meet them and asked them to get an appointment first,” a BJP source said.In the no trust motion passed in the NCP-ruled civic body earlier this week, six members of BJP voted against the resolution which was supported by the NCP, Congress and Sena.

Sonawane, who has demanded immediate removal of Mundhe, requested Thackeray to speak to Fadnavis in this regard. Thackeray reportedly assured the delegation that he would put a word with Fadnavis. The Sena chief told reporters that Fadnavis sould respect the decision taken by the NMMC corporators against Mundhe. “If the CM does not want to respect majority and the decision taken through a democratic way, then he should change rules and withdraw the right of passing of a no-confidence motion from corporators and act according to his own will,” Thackeray said.