No Rift In Maharashtra Alliance, Says Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said there is no substance in reports claiming a rift among ruling coalition partners in the state. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader also hit at state BJP president Chandrakant Patil for demanding a CBI probe into the allegations levelled against him and another state minister by dismissed Mumbai cop Sachin Waze. "Based on the allegations made by a culprit who is in jail and who has tarnished the image of the police department, Chandrakant Patil has made a demand. When Chandrakant Dada was the Revenue, Public Works and Co-operation minister in the (BJP) government, Shiv Sena MLA from Kolhapur Rajesh Kshirsagar had levelled allegations of corruption against Patil," he said. "What action was taken? If no action was taken on allegations made by a people''s representative, what action will be taken on allegations made by a culprit?" Ajit Pawar asked.