MUMBAI: Political circles were once again rife with speculation after DCM Eknath Shinde visited Delhi on Friday and met PM Narendra Modi in Parliament.This was Shinde’s first meeting with PM Modi after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led student protests and came ahead of the possible union cabinet reshuffle and the introduction of the delimitation bill in parliament which is likely next week.The meeting also gains significance as the Supreme Court (SC) is currently hearing the Shiv Sena’s name and symbol case. Sena functionaries said PM Modi was meeting NDA constituent parties and Shinde too met the PM as chief of the Shiv Sena which now has 13 Lok Sabha MPs.The functionary said PM Modi also met 6 Sena MPs who joined Shinde recently from Sena (UBT) and discussed issues related to their constituencies over breakfast on Friday.Sena functionaries said that PM Modi had meetings with other newly elected NDA MPs from Maharashtra including NCP MP Parth Pawar but Sena MPs met the PM separately. PM Modi is said to have assured that ‘the NDA was one parivaar (family) and that he was standing with each one of them.Earlier this week, Sena MPs led by Shrikant Shinde and newly elected Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Sachin Ahir had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. MPs Naresh Maske, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Sanjay Dina Patil were also present.Last month, DCM Shinde had met Shah with all Sena MPs including the 6 who had joined him recently. The meeting gave rise to speculation that Operation. Tiger 3.0 could be underway to split more MPs or MLAs of the Shiv Sena (UBT).Last month, after meeting Shah, DCM Shinde had expressed confidence that the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill would be passed during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.Shinde said they held positive discussions with Shah on a wide range of development-related issues, including irrigation projects in the constituencies of Sena MPs, Marathwada irrigation projects, railway and road infrastructure, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, issues concerning the Urban Development Department, rural development, and the Viksit Bharat programme. Shinde had said Shah assured them that these proposals would be placed before the upcoming cabinet meeting.
