Uddhav removed hours after resignation Step and former Shiv Sena MP Anandrao Adsul for anti-party activities.
Kadam wrote a letter to Uddhavi
In an emotional letter, Kadam said that he had begged Uddhav not to enter into a post-poll alliance. NCP and Congress in 2019 but his plea fell on “deaf ears”. He said the alliance was a betrayal of the thoughts of the late Shiv Sena founder. Bal Thackeray,
step son Yogesh MLA from Dapoli in Ratnagiri district Kadam Eknathi is part of Shinde rebel camp.
“My MLA son Yogesh and I were constantly insulted and always busy after you became the Chief Minister. I was appointed as Shiv Sena leader of late. Balasaheb Thackeray. However, I realized that this post has no meaning after his death,” Kadam said in his letter to Thackeray.
“When you were forming the government with NCP and Congress, I requested you with folded hands not to do so. (As) Late Balasaheb Thackeray always fought against Congress, it would be a betrayal of his ideas.”
Kadam said he was feeling hurt after Thackeray formed the government with NCP and Congress.
He said, “You did not listen to me at that time. It hurts me even today. If the Shiv Sena supremo was around, I would not have faced this day in my life.”
Who is Ramdas Kadam?
Kadam, who hails from Ratnagiri district, became an MLA for the first time in 1990 and won three more times.
He was appointed as Shiv Sena leader in 2005. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 2005 to 2009. He became MLC for the first time in 2010 and again in 2015.
Kadam had served as the state environment minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government led by Devendra Fadnavis in 2014–19.
The move did not go down well with the Shiv Sena after it was seen for a ministerial post in the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
He was also denied another term as a member of the State Legislative Council last year.
Exodus in Shiv Sena
The latest resignation comes amid an exodus within the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena, which began after the fall of the MVA government.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, who led the rebellion, has claimed that several senior leaders of the Uddhav faction are in touch with his faction.
“Many people, including office-bearers, workers and public representatives, are in touch with us. People have faith in the state government because of Balasaheb’s ideology and our position on the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance,” Shinde said.
On 16 July, Uddhav sacked former state minister Vijay Shivtare from the party and terminated his primary membership, citing anti-party activities. He also recently removed MLA Santosh Bangar, who was sacked as Hingoli district chief; and Naresh Mhaske as District Pramukh (District Head) for Thane.
While Uddhav is continuing the process of dismissal, CM Eknath Shinde is re-appointing the dismissed MLAs and leaders to the same posts. Shinde on Saturday re-appointed Mhakse as the district chief (district chief) for Thane.
Hearing in SC on July 20
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions related to the recent political crisis in Maharashtra on July 20, which led to the collapse of the MVA government in the state.
(with inputs from agencies)