Sena, BJP spar over MLCS nomination

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday hit out at the BJP over the issue of appointment of 12 Maharashtra Legislative Council members from the governor’s quota, saying delay in their nomination would amount to violation of the Constitution and suppression of freedom.

In his weekly column ‘Rokthok’ in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, Raut said despite the Covid-19 pandemic, “politicking hasn’t stopped”, be it over the border standoff with China or handling of the coronavirus situation.

The Rajya Sabha member said there were speculations that the appointment of 12 Legislative Council members from the governor’s quota may be put on hold and the “new government” (after ousting the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi) would make its own appointments after October.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is yet to recommend 12 names to the governor for nomination in the Legislative Council. The term of the 12 governor-nominated appointees ended last month. Raut also hit out at Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis over his comments that the BJP is not interested in pulling down the MVA government, which would fall “because of its own internal contradictions”.

“He (Fadnavis) has realised this after all attempts to topple the government have failed. But new experiments to create hurdles before the government would continue,” he said.

Fadnavis, who was on a visit to Ulhasnagar to take stock of the healthcare facilities there, said this in response to a query by reporters.

“Raut should not bother about the appointment of 12 lehislators. He should worry about the coronavirus patients,” Fadnavis said.