Kangana-Sena war: Inside details of Thackeray-Pawar meeting
Kangana-Sena war: The controversial demolition of actor Kangana Ranaut’s office bungalow by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appears to have created problems for the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar, a key ally in the coalition government in Maharashtra, said during his meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that Kangana Ranaut should have been ignored, sources told India Today TV.
The demolition move targeting actor Kangana Ranaut this morning appears to have divided Maharashtra’s ruling coalition, with ally Sharad Pawar expressing disapproval of the action by the Shiv Sena-controlled civic body. The NCP chief met with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and another Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Raut and the controversy did come up.
Sources said the leaders discussed that the demolition was “not a state issue, so shouldn’t be given importance”. Also, the BMC is an independent body, the sources said.
If she had been ignored, the issue wouldn’t have been blown out of proportion, Sharad Pawar reportedly told Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Uddhav Thackeray then told Sharad Pawar that the action was needed, sources said. Uddhav Thackeray also reportedly said during the meeting that the Maharashtra government was being systematically targeted.
Earlier, speaking to reporters, Mr. Pawar said the move by the BMC or Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had ended up giving the actor “unnecessary publicity”.
“Illegal constructions not a new thing in Mumbai. But acting upon it at the backdrop of the ongoing controversy gives rise to questions. But BMC has their own reasons and rules and they acted as per them” the NCP chief said. “I have an objection to the media’s coverage. Media made these things bigger. We should ignore such things,” said Mr. Pawar, suggesting that though the civic body acted “as per rules”, the timing of the demolition drive had sent out a wrong message to the public.
Actor Kangana Ranaut has moved quickly (and with Y+ security) bang into the middle of the political battleground between the Shiv Sena and the BJP in Mumbai.
Kangana has, since the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, earned her stripes as a serial attacker of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who is also the chief of the Sena. In her many allegations against him, she comes across as a proxy for the BJP which is still black-and-blue sore from being dumped by the Sena as an ally.
When parts of her office were demolished yesterday in Mumbai, it was clearly Sena’s play at exacting revenge. Not a smart move. Thackeray and the Sena are seen as reverting to type, bullies who ignore laws to persecute opponents with whatever force they can muster. The Bombay High Court was unequivocal in making it clear yesterday that the demolition was with malice and unfair. Kangana emerged as a martyr, at least on this front.