Maharashtra: Shiv Sena denies reports of minister's resignation

The reports of resignation of newly-sworn in minister Abdul Sattar created confusion on Saturday as conflicting accounts emerged over his move. 

While the Shiv Sena MLA, who took oath as a minister in Uddhav Thackeray cabinet on December 30, is yet to officially announce his resignation, several media reports cited sources that he was unhappy over the Minister of State (MoS) status and has quit the government. 

Reacting to the reports, Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said, "There are no differences in the cabinet. If some minister resigns then normally resignation is sent to CM or Raj Bhawan, but both have no information about it yet."

He added that whoever in the Shiv Sena is unhappy is not a true Shiv Sainik. He expressed hope that Abdul Sattar will not quit the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. 

Abdul Sattar is a three-time MLA from the Sillod constituency in Aurangabad District. He had quit the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena ahead of the Assembly elections in 2019. 

Reacting to reports that Abdul Sattar is unhappy and resigned as minister, his son Sameer Sattar said he had no knowledge of this. 

"I have no information about this, only he can speak about it and I am sure he will speak soon, better to wait and watch," he said. 

Arjun Khotkar, another senior leader of the Shiv Sena, also denied the reports of Sattar's resignation. "There is no question of Abdul Sattar tendering his resignation. These rumours are baseless. Sattar Sahab will meet CM Uddhav Thackeray tomorrow," Khotkar said. 

ANI quoted former MP Chandrakant Khaire as saying that Sattar was unhappy with the Shiv Sena's decision to support Congress in the Zilla Parishad president elections.

Khaire said he had a conversation with Sattar at a hotel here would talk to the media about this later.

The presence of BJP MLA and former Assembly speaker Haribhau Bagde at the hotel triggered further speculation. 

A total of 36 ministers, including Cabinet Minister and Minister of State ranks, took oath on December 30. 

Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya Thackeray and former chief minister Ashok Chavan also took oath as Cabinet ministers. This is the first time in Maharashtra that a father-son duo has found a place the state’s Council of Ministers.

NCP leaders Nawab Malik, Dilip Walse Patil, Dhananjay Munde, and Congress’ Vijay Wadettiwar were also inducted into the Cabinet.

The allocation of portfolios to the new ministers is yet to be done. 

Last month, the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena coalition formed government in Maharashtra and six ministers - two each from the three alliance partners - took oath along with chief minister Thackeray.