25.4.11

Sena gives Maha CM bypoll walkover

Despite the heated atmosphere in the Maharashtra legislature over the Jaitapur nuclear power plant issue, the Shiv Sena has decided not to field a candidate against chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in the forthcoming byelection to the legislative council. Sena MP Sanjay Raut announced on Friday evening that party supremo Bal Thackeray made the decision keeping in view the fact that the election was a matter of technicality: the Congress-NCP combine has a clear majority in the legislature, with no chance for the opposition to put up even a symbolic fight. The CM filed his nomination papers on Friday; Sunday is the last day for the filing of nomination. Since the seat is in the Sena’s quota, the BJP left it up to its saffron ally to take a call on the issue. BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said that the Sena leadership was in touch with state BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar and consulted him before announcing its decision. As things stand now, the CM is all set to get elected unopposed, unless an Independent enters the fray unexpectedly. While the Congress thanked the opposition for allowing the CM unanimous election to the legislative council, the latter took a dig at Chavan for opting for a backdoor entry to the legislature. Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said: “The CM should have opted for direct election (to the legislative assembly), thus testing his and his party's popularity. Anyway, the Congress has an advantage in the legislature; so, the CM should not feel elated .” Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said: “The CM will get elected unopposed, but he has no concern for the people who have died or have been injured in Jaitapur. He is a puppet of the Congress high command and does not have the guts to face voters in Maharashtra. The Congress has lost support in the state.” MPCC general secretary Sanjay Dutt, who resigned from the House to facilitate the CM’s election, said the Sena announcement was a victory for Chavan and his policy to take everyone into confidence before finalizing people-oriented policies. He hoped for similar cooperation from the opposition in getting development projects for the state cleared.

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