Maha govt shouldn't take populist decisions in session: Oppn

The opposition parties demanded Sunday that the BJP-led Maharashtra government should not announce "populist" or policy decisions in the interim budget session of the state legislature which starts from Monday. Speaking to reporters here, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil also said that opposition parties would be boycotting the customary tea party on the eve of the session.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde, his fellow NCP leader Jayant Patil and People's Republican Party leader Jogendra Kawade were also present at the press conference. Munde said it being an interim budget session before the Lok Sabha elections, he hoped the government will not make any "populist announcement" unlike those made in the Budget presented by Union finance minister Piyush Goyal, or take any policy decision.

He alleged that at least 11 ministers in the state cabinet are facing corruption charges. "We have lost confidence in this government," the NCP leader added. "We are not happy with the BJP-Shiv Sena government's way of running the government. Its farm loan waiver and water conservation schemes are mired in corruption but no action has been taken," said Vikhe-Patil.

"Hence we have decided not to respond to the Chief Minister's invitation for tea on the eve of the interim session," the Congress leader said. Vikhe-Patil also said he was going to file a public interest litigation against the new development plan for Mumbai, alleging that it favours the builders' lobby.

Asked if he would withdraw the PIL later, he said he was "not Uddhav Thackeray" to make a U-turn, in an apparent dig at the Shiv Sena chief who has formed a fresh alliance with the BJP despite earlier declarations that he would not. Reiterating the allegation that the BJP used "Enforcement Directorate's powers" to force the Sena to form alliance, Vikhe-Patil said the Sena has betrayed its own supporters.

The Devendra Fadnavis-led government had completely failed in preventing farmer suicides, he said. No landmark decision was taken to reform the agriculture sector and to create jobs, Vikhe-Patil said.

"The government on March 28 last year had announced recruitment of 72,000 candidates in various departments. Not a single person has got a job so far," he claimed. The six-day session of the state legislature will begin with the address of Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.

The vote-on-account, which will have budget provisions till July 31, will be tabled on February 27. PTI ND KRK KRK.