Sena-BJP to put up a united fight despite differences on statehood stir
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NAGPUR, NOV 26: The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is all set to corner the crisis-ridden Democratic Front government even as the issue of separate Vidarbha looms large on the Winter Session of the State Legislature beginning here on Monday.

Indicating its combative mood, the Opposition today decided to boycott the customary tea part hosted by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. ``We have decided not to participate in the tea party as this government has failed to adopt any measures for the welfare of the people,'' Opposition leader in the Assembly Narayan Rane told a press conference after meeting with Opposition leader in the Upper House Nitin Gadkari and other Opposition leaders.

The people in Vidarbha, Marathwada, North Maharashtra and Konkan are suffering from drought-like situation. There is severe water shortage in several parts of the State. Farmers are unable to irrigate their fields due to constant load shedding by the MSEB and the activities of anti-national elements are rising at an alarming rate, Rane pointed out and accused the government of its failure on all fronts.

Apparently, the Shiv Sena and the BJP have decided not to let the ruling front benefit from the cold war between them on the issue of separate Vidarbha. While the BJP is in favour of Vidarbha state, Sena is strongly against it. In fact, Sena has moved a notice in the Assembly under rule 209 seeking a debate on need for a united Maharashtra. ``We have no objections to the motion,''said BJP leader Nitin Gadkari adding that the BJP will make its stand clear when the motion will be brought before the House.

Interestingly, Gadkari said his party will not support the Vidarbha bandh call given by the Separate Vidarbha Action Committee. ``It is an effort of a faction of Congress leaders,'' he quipped.

BJP's leader in the Assembly Gopinath Munde did not attend the Opposition parties' meeting held at Rane's official residence.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh sought to play down the Vidarbha issue saying that the government would move a resolution only if it was to be passed unanimously on the floor of the Assembly.

``There are two different opinions on the granting statehood to Vidarbha. We want to take a decision only when all the concerned sides agree on it,'' he told reporters after the tea party.

The Congress has not announced its official stand as the Pranab Mukherji Committee is yet to submit its report to the party president, he pointed out indicating that the Congress was unlikely to take up the issue in this session.

About Monday's Vidarbha bandh, he said the call was given to attract the attention of the Centre and not the state.

The government is introducing 33 bills, including the legislations on slum development, regulation of coaching classes and amendment in the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act in session.

While facing the second winter session after it came to power last year, the ruling front is not in an unenviable position. The schism between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party has grown over the last couple of months. Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal's order for probe into land reservation scam in Pune has irked the likes of Chief Minister Deshmukh and party MP Suresh Kalmadi. On the other hand, Kalmadi has demanded inquiry into the transactions of the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation led by Ajit Pawar, an NCP minister and nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, a constituent of the DF which has three members in the Assembly, has moved a private motion on the Vidarbha issue. At the same time, minor partners in the DF--PWP, Janata Dal (S), CPI (M) and Samajwadi Party have expressed unhappiness over the attitude of Congress-NCP towards them as regards major policy decision.

The winter session is likely to be run for two weeks despite Deshmukh today saying that the government wanted to run it for full three weeks.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.