Pune: BJP state president Ravindra Chavan on Saturday said the person(s) at number two did not have any value without naming deputy chief ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, intensifying the battle for dominance within Mahayuti in the last leg of campaign for the first phase of local body polls. Chavan made the remark while addressing a campaign rally for the Vita Municipal Council election in Sangli district. BJP is contesting independently there against its Mahayuti partners Shiv Sena and NCP. Mahayuti partners have been indulging in mudslinging and challenging each other in some other local bodies’ polls too.In Vita, Chavan referred to former home minister late RR Patil’s speech in the assembly to target his alliance partners. “It was one of RR Patil’s last speeches, which became quite famous. In that speech, he mentioned the importance of the person at the top. Only the person at number one matters. The person at number two does not have any value. I hope the people of Vita will value Patil’s words,” he said.Giving credit for Mahayuti’s success to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chavan said, “People of Vita should remember that only Deva Bhau (Devendra Fadnavis) is everybody’s brother. He is the one who will ensure everyone’s growth.”This is not the first time Chavan made a statement unsettling the BJP’s allies. While interacting with reporters, the BJP state president recently said he wanted to save the alliance till Dec 2 — the first phase of polling for the local bodies in the state. His statement led to various speculations related to the future of Mahayuti.
