Ahead of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature, opposition Congress legislators on Monday raised slogans against the state government, accusing it of indulging in corruption. The legislators, led by former minister Yashomati Thakur and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, gathered at Vidhan Bhavan and raised slogans against the government.
From the Shiv Sena (UBT) side, only Ambadas Danve, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Council, was present during the protest. None of the MLAs from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP camp were present during the protest. The opposition camp including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar Group) on Sunday boycotted the traditional tea party organized by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the monsoon session of the state legislature.
Danve told reporters on Sunday that he has decided to boycott the state government’s High Tea invitation as it has failed to address people’s problems on several fronts. “The legitimacy of this government on constitutional norms is already in question,” he said.
Danve alleged that the government seems to have adopted a policy of ‘misusing’ investigative agencies to pressurize the opposition and force them to join the government or face false charges and harassment. He said that we are seeing a frightening picture of democracy in Maharashtra, as many constitutional norms have been flouted. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra himself is facing disqualification.