NCP politicians more comfortable with Fadnavis as CM

Nashik: NCP would be more comfortable working with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as the chief minister rather than Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, top NCP sources told TOI on Monday."Our party is likely to back Fadnavis for the CM's post when talks are held involving the BJP top brass in Delhi, along with Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis has greater ability to take along and deal intelligently with all the coalition partners," a senior NCP politician said, adding that the party's feedback was that Fadnavis's candidature for the CM's post was ‘almost a certainty'.NCP's stand on the issue gains significance as the Sena camp is keen on Eknath Shinde continuing as the CM since the alliance went to election under his stewardship. According to NCP insiders, though the relationship between the top brass of the three Mahayuti partners is cordial, there are some districts where the local units of the alliance partners have differences, and if they come out in the open, it will be a huge embarrassment both for govt and the coalition partners' top brass."Now that Mahayuti has retained power, it would be prudent if Fadnavis heads govt since he can tackle issues deftly among the coalition partners," a senior NCP functionary said, adding that BJP top brass should do ‘justice' to Fadnavis by making him the CM."Great injustice was done to Fadnavis after MVA govt fell over two-and-a-half years ago. He took this humiliation sportingly and announced that he would not be a part of govt. But later, he agreed to become deputy CM after the intervention of the senior BJP politicians. Now, BJP's central leadership should make amends and make him the CM," the NCP functionary said.