Katare was deputy minister in state government, when Vora was chief minister in 1989
BHOPAL: Former state chief minister Motilal Vora played a decisive role in the choice of Satyadev Katare as leader of opposition. Vora, Treasurer of All India Congress Committee, is close to party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and vice- president Rahul Gandhi. Vora suggested Katare’s name to Delhi- based leaders of the party and cleared the way for Katare’s elevation.
The party High Command, after the bitter clash between former leader of opposition Ajay Singh and Mahendra Singh Kalukheda, was looking for a new name for the post. In the meantime, Katare contacted Vora and got his name finalised.
Katare was deputy minister in state government, when Vora was chief minister in 1989 and has been touch with him since then.when the party high command did not approve Kalukheda’s name, the Jyotiraditya Scindia faction proposed the name of MLA from Vijaypur Ramnivas Rawat. Rawat’s name was not approved by other leaders.Katare’s name was not proposed by Scindia and the party high command directly announced his name.
Many upset with Katare’s appointment
The appointment of Satyadev Katare as leader of opposition has triggered a fresh round of infighting within the party. There are several MLAs in the party who are not happy with his appointment. Katare does not have good rapport with MLA from Bhind, Govind Singh. Senior MLAs like KP Singh and Arif Aqueel are also not happy.
Former leader of opposition Ajay Singh, in order to block Kalukheda’s way, may have given his consent on Katare’s name but the decision of high command has not gone down well with him.
Opposition to form Shadow cabinet; wants 75 sittings a year
As soon as Sitasharan Sharma assumed the Speaker’s chair, the House witnessed sharp exchange of remarks between the ruling and opposition parties on Thursday.Leader of opposition Satyadev Katare declared that a shadow cabinet would be formed to grill the government.
Katare the details of the shadow cabinet would be intimated to the House. He said instead of distributing suitcases at the start of assembly session, books of Kaul and Shakdhar should be given. Katare demanded the government to ensure minimum 75 meetings of the House in a year and also asked to continue the session till January 17. He said the opposition would not resort to walk outs and won’t enter the Well of the House.
Home Minister Babulal Gaur has termed the demand regarding 75 sittings as irrelevant.Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan termed Sharma as a ‘ natural’ speaker, whose integrity and impartiality was beyond doubt.
Former minister Mukesh Nayak said he expected Sharma to run the house in an impartial manner. He said it was the Opposition thatr ensures that the government works properly, hence the Opposition must be given patronage.
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