Mumbai BEST bus stir: Fadnavis intervenes, speaks to Thackeray
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis today intervened in the BEST bus strike in Mumbai and spoke to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to find a solution. Over 32,000 employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) are on strike since last week and 3200-odd buses in its fleet are off the roads. The telephonic conservation between them took place after a meeting today.
Telephonic conversation happened after BEST, state chief-secretary meeting failed
The meeting held in Mantralaya between striking BEST union functionaries and state chief secretary D K Jain failed to break the deadlock. Hence the telephonic conservation between Fadnavis and Thackeray, the details of which haven't been revealed. The Shiv Sena has been unable to end the strike despite its affiliated union, the BEST Kamgar Sena, announcing a pullout a day into the strike.
Striking workers have been demanding merger of BMC, BEST budgets
The Sena is also the ruling party in the BMC and its corporator is the BEST chairman. Striking workers have been demanding the merger of BMC and BEST budgets as well as higher salaries among other issues. Yesterday evening, Thackeray had said that his party was in favour of merging BMC and BEST budgets. "The financial condition of the BEST has deteriorated," he noted.
'A solution can be found only through the talks'
"I had given the promise of merger of the budgets and that will be fulfilled. A solution can be found only through the talks. Even though the BEST strike issue is in the court, I'm ready to be part of the discussion," Thackeray had said.
