MUMBAI: Opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) efforts to topple the State government appear to have come to a halt as the Shiv Sena has kept them guessing on it’s stance on withdrawing government’s support.
“The no-trust motion that the opposition is planning won’t have requisite numbers unless the Shiv Sena is with us. However, I’m sure that they won’t sacrifice power unless the BJP compels them to do so,” former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane said on Monday.
Senior Shiv Sena minister Dr Deepak Sawant, meanwhile, said that the decision to withdraw from the government has not been reached as yet.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who addressed the newly elected BJP corporators on Monday, told them that they should try to change the system instead of being a part of it.
Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, said that the party is trying to unite all parties except Shiv Sena and the BJP in the BMC to keep a tab on the ruling party in the corporation.
Meanwhile, the business advisory committee (BAC) of the State Assembly met on Monday to finalise the business of the budget session starting from Monday March 6. The session will last until April 7, with 23 working days. The budget will be presented on Saturday, March 18, minister for parliamentary affairs Girish Bapat said after the meeting.
Leader of opposition in assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said that the opposition will try to corner the government over issues bothering the farmers and the working class. On questions related to toppling the government, he said that the opposition is certainly working in the direction.
Leader of opposition in legislative council Dhananjay Munde, too said that the crop loan waiver and falling prices of farm produce are the issues over which the government would be cornered in the upper house.
Leaders of the Congress and the NCP have decided to meet on March 3 to discuss course of action during the assembly session.
The election of Mumbai mayor has been scheduled for March 9.