Govt8217;s days numbered 8211; Munde

MUMBAI, NOV 25: The Democratic Front government would collapse on its own without the Shiv Sena-BJP trying to pull it down, felt former D...

MUMBAI, NOV 25: The Democratic Front government would collapse on its own without the Shiv Sena-BJP trying to pull it down, felt former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Gopinath Munde. He predicted that the government would collapse under its own contradictions and struggle for power.

Even though Munde was unable to give any specific time-frame on the longevity of the government, he was however hopeful that in the event of the fall of the government the Sena-BJP alliance would be able to provide an alternate arrangement. Munde said that in order for the present government to last long, both the main parties namely Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party would have to change their stand.

Munde said that the during the winter session of State Legislature commencing from December 13, issues like payment to cotton growers in cash, hike in price of milk procurement from farmers by rupee one and equal sharing of burden by all sectors in view of the proposed hike in MSEB tariff would be taken up.

Hesaid that the Sena-BJP could not form the government as it fell short of the stipulated 145 seats as it had the support of 136 MLAs in writing. He said that the aim of the non-official bill proposed to be brought in by the Sena-BJP in both Houses of the Legislature during the winter session seeking to ban citizens of foreign origin from holding top posts was to expose the NCP8217;s double standards.

He said that the statement made by NCP President Sharad Pawar that his party would support the move of bringing in such a legislation at the Central level and not at the State clearly states that the issue which was once a matter of prestige and self respect, is not the same any longer.

Munde said that the alliance had benefitted to a considerable extent due to split in the Congress votes. The impact was much evident in Konkan, Mumbai, Marathwada and North Maharashtra. While Vidarbha voted largely in favour of the Congress and Western Maharashtra for NCP, he added.