Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislative Council witnessed a strange camaraderie between the Congress-Shiv Sena and BJP-NCP when the House began discussing the no-confidence motion moved by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) against its Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh. While NCP group leader Sunil Tatkare waved a copy of the Constitution to defend his party’s decision to bring in the no-confidence motion, Shiv Sena members vigorously spoke in support of Deshmukh who is from the Congress.
“When this motion was introduced last week, 24 members of the Maharashtra Legislative Council had backed it. According to the Constitution, the motion can be discussed any day before a seven-day period from the day of granting it, which is happening today,” Tatkare said. However, Congress leader Manikrao Thakre said that before introducing a no-confidence motion against the Chairman, it is necessary to state the reason to do so. “If there is no valid reason, a no-confidence motion cannot be brought in. Tell the people of the state if Deshmukh misused his chair or acted against the interests of the people,” Thakre said.
Shiv Sena’s Ramdas Kadam said that his party is unaware of any “secret pact” between the BJP and the NCP. He alleged that the Sena is being deceived by its ally just like the NCP decieved the Congress. “Considering his age, removing Deshmukh from the chair is against moral principles. This amounts to murder of democracy. When he was elected to the chair, it was the NCP which made speeches praising him. What happened now?” Kadam sought to know.
