Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s recent declaration that everything would go well with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis—that everything was “Thanda, Thanda, cool, cool” was too soon. Recent events point to a growing divide, as Fadnavis has opened an investigation into a contentious Rs 900-crore housing project in Jalna that was resurrected under Shinde’s direction.
The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) had originally scrapped the project in 2020, deeming it unfeasible due to concerns over water scarcity, regional economic conditions, and a similar project planned near the Samruddhi Expressway. However, in February 2023, during Shinde’s tenure as Chief Minister and head of the urban development department, the project was reinstated, and land acquisition began.
When Santosh Sambare, a former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Badnapur in Jalna, voiced concerns about Fadnavis, the problem was brought to light. Sambare said that a private consultant falsified studies to support the project’s resuscitation, favouring powerful businesses and land mafias at CIDCO’s expense. Landowners, including well-known businesspeople, he said, had bought land from farmers at low prices and then sold it to CIDCO at exorbitant prices.
Responding to the complaint, Fadnavis ordered a probe, instructing CIDCO’s managing director to investigate and submit a report. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued a formal directive on February 7, while Leader of Opposition in the legislative council, Ambadas Danve, further pressed for the project’s cancellation in a letter dated February 18.
As the two leaders of the Mahayuti 2.0 government continue to disagree on a number of governance-related matters, this most recent development exacerbates the already existing tensions between Fadnavis and Shinde.
Source: Hindustan Times
