Maharashtra Budget session to commence from Mar 14

Mumbai, Mar 12 (UNI) The budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature, beginning here from Wednesday, is set for a stormy start with the opposition gearing up to put the Congress-led Democratic Front (DF) government on the mat for failing to tackle the acute power crisis, unabated farmers' suicides and price rise.

Besides the three grave issues, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil is expected to be the main target of the opposition's ire, as they have been demanding his resignation even since a First Information Report (FIR) was registered last week for allegedly using pressure tactics and threatening rival party candidates to withdraw their nomination papers from the Panchayat Samiti elections in the Sangli district so that NCP nominees can get elected unopposed.

A case was registered against Mr Patil and Sanjay Patil, a new entrant into NCP, with the Tasgaon police on directions of the State Election Commission (SEC), who conducted a probe into the complaints by Shiv Sena-BJP candidates.

Mr Patil had threatened to sue BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar for defamation and ordered a Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) probe. Later, Shiv Sena Panchayat Samiti candidate Panchakshar Mahadev Jangum of Sidyewadi in Tasgaon tehsil withdrew his complaint, charging that senior BJP leaders had in fact threatened him to lodge a complaint against the Deputy Chief Minister.

Similarly, BJP candidates in Tasgaon also said their senior leaders had pressurised them to lodge a complaint against Mr Patil.

Despite the SEC postponing the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls in all 12 wards from Tasgaon constituency in Sangli district, no candidate decided to remain in fray and NCP nominees were elected.

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