Govt calls for all-party meeting today, excludes Uddhav from list

The state government has invited Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, along with two descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — Udayanraje Bhosle (BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP) and Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje (Swarajya Sanghtana).

All senior Congress leaders from the state have been invited to the meeting. However, the government has not invited former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray.

Leaders of Opposition in both the legislative Assembly and council — Vijay Wadettiwar and Ambadas Danve — have been invited. According to sources all parties have supported extending reservation to Marathas but have repeatedly clarified that it cannot be given by reducing OBC reservation.

“All parties will be meeting before the Wednesday’s meeting to finalise their respective stand. It is expected that the state government will present certain resolutions for the discussion,” said a senior Congress leader.

The ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ministers, MLAs and leaders on Tuesday night held a meeting at the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is unlikely to attend the all-party meet as he is down with dengue.

Ruling Shiv Sena, too, held its meeting on Tuesday night. A delegation of opposition parties on Monday held a meeting with state governor Ramesh Bais where the demand to call for a special session of the state legislature to discuss the issue was raised. However, the state Cabinet Tuesday did not even discuss the possibility of the special session.

“What is the use of the special session? Everybody agrees that the reservation should be given but nobody is willing to reduce the OBC quota. It cannot happen,” said a senior BJP minister.