Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 10: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday addressed the media after a state cabinet meeting, commenting on the political developments in Chandrapur and announcing key decisions including approval for the Purandar airport and steps towards the Third Mumbai project.

Reacting to the BJP receiving support from the Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena in Chandrapur, Fadnavis said he did not have detailed information about the local alliance. “I will take information about the tie-up in Chandrapur, but I extend my congratulations and best wishes to the Chandrapur mayor,” he said.

In Chandrapur Municipal Corporation, the BJP has secured the mayor’s post with the unexpected support of the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. As per the arrangement, while the BJP gets the mayor’s post, the Thackeray faction will get the standing committee.

Congress had also offered the standing committee to the Thackeray group, but its district president Sandeep Girhe said they chose to support the BJP as there was no possibility of getting the mayor’s post for the next five years.

With the Thackeray group’s support, BJP formed the civic body’s ruling alliance on Tuesday, dealing a major setback to the Congress, which had emerged as the single largest party. BJP’s Sangeeta Khandekar has been elected mayor, while Prashant Danav of the Thackeray faction has become the deputy mayor.

On development projects, Fadnavis announced that the Purandar airport in Pune district will be named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He said 96 per cent of landowners have agreed to land acquisition, and orders have been issued to complete the acquisition process by June 1. He also said land at Atal Setu has been handed over to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, which will help in the development of the Third Mumbai concept.

The chief minister further said the cabinet has approved taking a fresh loan from NABARD to complete irrigation projects in the state. This will bring around eight lakh acres of land under irrigation, he added.

Referring to Nationalist Congress Party developments, Fadnavis said a condolence resolution was passed following the demise of Ajit Pawar’s relative and that Sunetra Pawar was formally welcomed. He said the NCP has performed well in recent Zilla Parishad elections and will continue to do so, but avoided commenting on the issue of party merger, calling it an internal matter.

Responding to MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s criticism of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh programme, Fadnavis hit back, saying those who were not invited were the ones criticising it. “The programme was organised to mark 100 years so people could understand the RSS. Even those not associated with the RSS were invited. Some feel uneasiness, some feel nausea — especially those who were not invited,” he remarked.