The Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance Government in the State of Maharashtra is witnessing a fresh rift as despite the opposition from alliance partners Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress party, Shiv Sena supremo and incumbent Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray decided to implement the updation of the National Population Register (NPR) starting 1 May, reports the Times of India.

Sonia Gandhi led Congress party and Sharad Pawar led NCP have demanded a joint meeting of the three alliance partners to decide the course as the Shiv Sena has publicly stated that the NPR's updation is in the national interest.

The latest rift adds to the tensions in the alliance as only days ago CM Thackeray's had decided to consent the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigations in the Elgar Parishad case despite opposition on the same from NCP. Upon the development, NCP leader and incumbent Home Minister of Maharashtra had rued that CM Thackeray had overruled him.

Meanwhile, with respect to NPR, it should be noted that the coalition partner Congress's Working Committee had in January passed a resolution to stop the NPR exercise. However, CM Thackeray's chief media adviser has stated that NPR updation is the prerogative of the Union Government.