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Anant Geete to quit Union cabinet

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Indicating that the breakup with BJP was complete, Shiv Sena said its sole minister in the Union cabinet, Anant Geete, would resign once prime minister Narendra Modi returned from the United States.

However, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray was ambivalent when asked whether Sena would snap ties with BJP in the saffron-controlled BMC, where it needs BJP's support to remain in power. Incidentally, on Sunday, Uddhav's estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray had launched a broadside against Sena for not quitting the Union cabinet.

Geete, who represents Raigad in Lok Sabha, is the Union heavy industries minister. After the Modi cabinet was sworn in, Sena was unhappy that despite being the second largest party in NDA with 18 MPs and the only natural ally of BJP, it had been given an insignificant portfolio while other allies like TDP had got departments like civil aviation.

Sena was also keen on more cabinet berths and gubernatorial postings. The non-fulfilment of these demands was one of the flashpoints in the 25-year-old alliance, which fell apart last week.

Asked about party rebels throwing their hat into the ring against official candidates, Uddhav said he hoped they would withdraw nominations and prove their loyalty.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Sena mouthpiece Saamna attacked Dalit leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ramdas Athavale (RPI) for joining hands with BJP and claimed Dalit activists were with Sena. It accused Athavale of putting self-interest above the interests of his community, and pointed to reports that Athavale had been promised a berth in the Modi cabinet and a 10% share in power if BJP formed the government in Maharashtra.

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