The Untold Story of the Fadnavis-Shinde coup !
In my last blog, the blame was on the top brass of the BJP for painting Fadnavis from the Kingmaker to an ordinary DCM. I was convinced too!! But then, I happen to meet many of the close circle ones who were actually a part of this entire operation. To begin with let me tell you nothing of this has happened overnight. What Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde pulled off was no-mean task. As Shinde said in his speech yesterday at the Vidhan Bhavan, you can’t steal one Corporator, but here today we managed whisk off 50 MLAs right below the nose of Uddhav Thackeray-Sharad Pawar government. The task was a daunting one, but just for the sake of ‘Hindutva’ we did it.
This all had left me in a limbo. Now for the unknown, me and Mohit Kamboj live in the same building. Mohit along with Ravindra Chavan of Dombivali and Sanjay Kute, MLA of my father’s birth constituency Jalgaon Jamod in the Buldhana district, were the only 3 who were ‘in-charge’ of this “Surat-Guwhati-Goa-Mumbai” operation. But look at the loyalty of Mohit, we have met him every single day since the time we have shifted and are great friends, but not once did he even mention a word! Else you all know like every Journalist how I am ‘bhuka’ of breaking any news. Kudos, to Fadnavis for having such loyal soldiers. For info, Eknath Shinde will be the CM, I think not even Amruta Fadnavis knew, forget anyone else!!
Now this story hasn’t been told by Mohit nor the MLAs present during this whole operation, just to clear the air; in fact in the evening when Fadnavis broke the bomb of ES being the CM, in the morning a friend from Amravati called me and gave me the news of DF not becoming the CM. In our Vidharbian dialect, I pushed this conversation far far away! He said, Vikrant I live nearby where Fadnavis’s closest relatives live. When I went to their home to ask for their train timings, they said, no this time they aren’t going to Mumbai as Fadnavis most probably won’t become the CM. This was at 9 am. Then came a call close to noon from an NCP person who somehow managed to get the news. I shooed him away too…But then reality happened. One thing I decided that day, when any person comes to me with any news, first check it rather than shooing it away. Imagine, I could have been the first one to divulge the details. Anyways, lesson learnt!
Now, in my previous blog, I had mentioned that one of the BJP top 3 brass does not like Devendra Fadnavis, which I am sure you people must have read. When I met Fadnavis day before yesterday, he said, Vikrant not only you but the entire Maharshtra has painted Amit Shah as the villain. But that is not the case. I wrapped up the meeting and went straight to my source. Clicked the mandatory photo for social media and just went. The source said, Vikrant all this (coup) began exactly a year and half ago. It has taken a year and a half to convince every single MLA for the support. And NO, it was not PM Modi, or an Amit Shah or a Nadda who had promised Eknath Shinde the CMship. It was at that time itself FADNAVIS who had promised Eknath Shinde the premier post else just for the DCM post no person (Shinde) would have dared to do anything of this sort. Yes, it was decided by Fadnavis a year and half back that Eknath Shinde will be the CM when time comes. But then, who decided the DCM post (fiasco) at the last minute? Many say and even I wrote It was Amit Shah who wanted to ‘cut-size’ DF. Fadnavis on day 1 had decided that when he announces ES as CM candidate, he will ‘run’ the Government as how Sonia Gandhi did. Fadnavis accepted the post only because, as sources say, PM Modi called and persuaded him endlessly. No! it was not Amit Shah nor Nadda!! It was the call from Prime Minister himself. Then what did DF do, as he was left flabbergasted. He straight away went in the room and Called his mother. Mother being a mother was concerned about this demotion but then she was immediately convinced and told her son, If the PM has called, he has something greater in store for you! Just Go ahead son! And that’s when Fadnavis decided to say a YES to the DCM post and the third chair at Raj Bhavan was arranged within minutes. PM told Fadnavis that he will ask JP Nadda to come live on TV, Amit Shah to take on Twitter and finally he himself will tweet about Fadnavis should be the DCM and be a part of the system; as it is extremely difficult to stay out of system and govern.
Now, you know I love to play the Devil’s advocate here. Did the Prime Minister really call? Was the top brass really involved? OR Was it Fadnavis only who had decided a year and a half ago that he will be the DCM and Shinde CM? 😄😄😉😉😉. Whatever it was, to dislodge the MVA was a master-stroke by Fadnavis and hats off to the guts shown by Eknath Shinde and 50 others. But, again leaving with a thought for all of you…If Modi/Shah/Fadnavis could pull off this entire thing in a weeks time, what stopped them for 2.5 years? Was it someone else who had promised to finish off Sena being with them? Is the post of Leader of Opposition a gift? Also whatever happened, ex CM Uddhav Thackeray’s arrogance and non-meeting costed him his chair. Will an ailing Uddhav and somewhat confused Aditya manage to rebuild its Sena? Time for likes Raote, old timers like Narvekar and all to regroup and think that this is 1966 and work. Also before I conclude, those asking if Sena CM was OK, why hands were not shaken in 2019 itself? Remember Uddhav didn’t answer numerous phone calls made by Amit Shah and DF too, remember he (supposedly) said that Amit Shah has lied and there was a promise made a room and all…Hence the hands were not shaken then.
Sab Chalta Hai, Modi, Shah and now Fadnavis se Panga Nahi Chalta Hai Saab !!
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
