Mumbai: A minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, it is learnt, is facing the axe following allegations of his connection with a TikTok star’s death, and a public gathering that flew in the face of Covid restrictions in Maharashtra, where cases continue to surge.
Sanjay Rathod, a veteran Shiv Sena leader, holds the forest portfolio. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has “indicated” to Rathod that he should step down as minister, pending inquiry, instead of “coercing the leadership to take a decision”, a senior Shiv Sena source close to the CM and Shiv Sena chief told ThePrint.
The minister from Yavatmal district in Vidarbha is battling heat not just from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but from MVA allies Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and his own party too. If Rathod does exit, he would be the first cabinet minister of this government to be dropped.
“The CM has… told Rathod that he should take this decision on his own. Otherwise, dismissing a minister, suspending a minister, all of this doesn’t look good,” said the above-mentioned Shiv Sena leader. “He is an old party worker after all. He has done good work in the past.
“The CM’s words were clear. Now, he (Rathod) should know what is to be done,” he added.
ThePrint reached Rathod through calls but his phone was switched off. There was no response to a text message sent to him either.
Also Read: From vandalism & threats to silence — what led Shiv Sena change its stand on Valentine’s Day
Allegations against Rathod
The BJP has called for Rathod, the only Shiv Sena minister from the Vidarbha region, to be investigated in connection with the death of TikTok star Pooja Chavan in Pune two weeks ago. Chavan is believed to have fallen from her apartment balcony.
The BJP claims photo and audio clips doing the rounds on social media suggest a link between Rathod and Chavan. After the clips emerged, the minister went incommunicado.
Rathod, a four-time MLA, resurfaced Tuesday and visited the local Pohradevi shrine in the Washim district that is sacred to the Banjara community, to which Chavan and he belong. A huge crowd convened at the temple and this apparent show of strength irked the leadership more, as it came just two days after CM Thackeray announced a ban on social, political and religious gatherings amid a rising number of Covid cases, party sources said.
Rathod also addressed the media at the temple.
“The Banjara community has been deeply saddened by the death of Pooja Chavan and we are all with her aggrieved family in this tragedy. But the sordid politics being done in this matter in Maharashtra is completely wrong and baseless,” Rathod told journalists at Pohradevi.
While Chavan’s family has reportedly told police in Pune that she was driven to suicide by her mental illness, a case of accidental death has been registered in this regard.
The Thackeray government has asked the director general of police to inquire into the crowding at the Pohradevi shrine.
Speaking to reporters outside the Vidhan Bhavan, Shiv Sena leader and minister Anil Parab said, “The director general of police said the inquiry is underway to find out who were present at Pohradevi. We are doing a detailed inquiry before arriving at any conclusion. The CM has already assured that action will be taken against anyone found guilty.”
Thackeray briefly met Rathod at the former’s official residence, Varsha, Wednesday, and it is then that he is said to have nudged the minister to resign.
This is the second controversy involving an MVA minister within days. Last month, NCP leader and minister Dhananjay Munde came under fire from the BJP after a woman filed a complaint of sexual harassment against him. The controversy, however, died down after members of other parties, including the BJP, raised doubts about the intention of the complainant, and the woman took her complaint back.
In Rathod’s case, the BJP plans to corner the MVA government during the state’s budget session starting Monday.
“The CM doesn’t have to wait for a minister to resign. He can dismiss the minister at any moment. This is just an attempt to wear a veil of being cultured, while actually doing nothing,” BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said. “But the BJP will not let the budget session function till Rathod tenders his resignation.”
Also Read: No differences in Maharashtra govt, media creating stories to fill space, says Sharad Pawar
Heat from MVA allies, Shiv Sena members
The CM is also believed to be facing pressure from the Congress and the NCP to take action against Rathod.
A day after Rathod’s Pohradevi visit, Congress minister Balasaheb Thorat told television channels, “Such crowding even after the CM’s appeal is absolutely not right.”
Regarding the alleged link to Chavan’s death, Thorat said, “Whatever it is, the issue should be inquired into promptly and brought to some conclusion. The minister (Rathod) is also saying the same. The honourable CM is aware of everything, an inquiry should be done soon and a decision should be taken.”
NCP president Sharad Pawar, too, was upset with the crowding at the Pohradevi shrine, saying it does not help the image of the government and the CM, a party functionary said.
Speaking to ThePrint, NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik, “I am not aware if Pawarsaheb has conveyed anything to the CM. But, the CM has already ordered an inquiry and has assured that he will take action based on the report.”
Rathod’s party colleagues from Vidarbha, too, are vexed with the minister’s behaviour.
“Such crowding by our own minister after the CM has made an appeal to avoid crowds due to Covid, and considering parts of Vidarbha are under lockdown, does not send a good message to the public. He (Rathod) should ideally step down pending inquiry,” a Shiv Sena MLA from Vidarbha said.
Also Read: How Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP leaders played a part in Maharashtra’s Covid spike
One cannot expect any better behaviour from members of a party(?), or should I say goonda outfit involved in extertion and threats of violence, when they are made part of a government as ministers!