Nandlal issue rocks Mah council

Mumbai, Apr 13 (UNI) The issue of allegations levelled by Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Nandlal against Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh rocked the house today which led to an adjournment and later walkout by the Opposition members.

The issue was raised by Leader of the Opposition Pandurang Phundkar who demanded that considering the ''seriousness'' of the allegations made by Mr Nandlal against Mr Deshmukh, the issue should be taken up for discussion under article 269 by scrapping the question hour.

He was supported by Nitin Gadkari(BJP), Madhukar Sarpotdar (Sena) and others.

Mr Gadkari alleged that Mr Deshmukh tried to pressurise Mr Nandlal through Cooperation Minister Dr Patangrao Kadam, Agriculture Minister Balasaheb Thorat and his Principal Secretary Umeshchandra Sarangi not to make Latur constituency as reserved.

''This is the Constitutional dilemma with confrontation between government and administration taking place,'' he alleged.

PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal admitted to the seriousness of the issue but said that since Mr Deshmukh was in New Delhi, he would give reply later and the question hour should not be scrapped.

Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh rejected the proposal of the Opposition to scrap question hour and advised them to bring the proposal in other manner.

However, this did not satisfy the Opposition who entered the well and raised anti-CM slogans.

Amidst the pandemonium, Mr Deshmukh called several questions which were replied by the ministers.

UNI JM ADG PK KP1802