The Congress-NCP government in the state has decided to counter-attack the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue by pressing for BJP national president Nitin Gadkari’s participation in the all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister.
The state government has come under fire after the Centre’s affidavit that urged the SC to dismiss the state’s plea seeking the inclusion of Belgaum and 865 villages in Maharashtra with “exemplary costs”. Following public pressure, chief minister Ashok Chavan announced that he would lead an all-party delegation to meet the PM on Wednesday to discuss the boundary issue.
The Opposition has accused the Union ministers from Maharashtra of being inactive on the issues.
The Congress said that Mr Gadkari, who is also a member of the state Legislative Council, should take the state’s leadership to the Centre. Congress spokesperson Sanjay Dutt said, “It will be the BJP’s prerogative to decide who will represent it in the all-party delegation. But it is expected that Mr Gadkari should be there. The Congress’s central leadership is not from Maharashtra, but the BJP’s president is from the state.
Also, the BJP has its government in Karnataka. Mr Gadkari has given brilliant speeches in the House on why Belgaum should be included in Maharashtra and so, he must be part of the delegation.” However, the BJP said that Mr Gadkari will not go with the delegation. “Sudhir Mungantiwar, Eknath Khadse and Pandurang Phundkar will represent the BJP. Gopinath Munde may also go, but it is unlikely that Mr Gadkari will participate in it,” BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said. Reacting to the Congress’ argument that Mr Gadkari should take the lead on the issue, the BJP spokesperson said, “If the state government wants a national president of a party to helm the delegation, then NCP president Sharad Pawar is the man. He is also a minister at the Centre.”