Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: CM Uddhav Thackeray has instructed Ravindra Waikar and Arvind Sawant , who were recently offered crucial assignments with the rank of a cabinet minister, not to draw any perk or salary for the posts, it is learnt.

There were reports early this week that Thackeray had asked Waikar and Sawant to resign. However, senior civil servants told the CM that a government resolution (GR) could be issued disallowing the two from availing of the perks and salary that goes with the post.

The CM has thus staved off a crisis to the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime, said Mantralaya mandarins on Thursday. Waikar and Sawant can’t draw perks or salary as they are members of the state assembly and the Lok Sabha respectively. However, bureaucrats expressed surprise that the Sena had not examined the legal angle before clearing the two appointments.

Thackeray’s action came in the wake of speculation that BJP was set to raise the issue on the floor of the assembly during the budget session slated to begin on February 24. With over 100 MLAs under its belt, BJP is keen on going hammer and tongs against the Aghadi regime, it is learnt.

“The Maha Vikas Aghadi would have faced embarrassment as BJP would have torn the government to pieces on the constitutional validity of the two appointments made by Uddhavji,” said a senior Shiv Sena politician. “The BJP would have targeted Uddhavji,” he added.

