Congress deputes Kamal Nath as observer to handle Maharashtra crisis

Mumbai, Jun 21: Congress on Tuesday deputed senior leader Kamal Nath as the AICC observer to defuse the crisis currently faced by the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.

The development comes amid reports of around 10 MLAs, led by a sitting disgruntled Cabinet Minister, likely to switch the party.

Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde along with some Sena MLAs apparently camping in Gujarat's Surat city, a day after the Sena-led MVA, which also comprises the NCP and Congress, suffered a setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.

Earlier, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said there was no threat to the state Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and his party leaders would discuss the current political developments in the state during a meeting in Mumbai.

"The BJP is misusing power it has at the Centre, which is now not hidden from anyone. A money-power circle is going on. They are pursuing the path of lies, but truth will win. This phase shall pass," the Congress leader said.

Patole also said state Congress leaders will meet in Mumbai later in the day wherein "we will be taking a stand on what is happening". He also asserted that there was no threat to the MVA government and claimed that getting the majority figure (in the 288-member state Assembly) was a distant dream for the BJP.