The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra on Thursday demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in the light of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in the Rajya Sabha. Dr. Singh had blamed Mr. Chavan for failing to mention the charge-sheeting of P.J. Thomas while his name was being considered for the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner.
Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar told journalists that the Chief Minister, known for his clean image, had come under suspicion.
Corruption charges
“The needle of suspicion is on Mr. Chavan. He should have the good sense to resign. The charges of corruption that made former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to resign have cropped up against Prithviraj Chavan too. This shows the Congress has no honest people left,” Mr. Mungantiwar said.
He said the Opposition would be demanding Mr. Chavan's resignation in the State Legislature during the budget session, which begins on March 14.
Thursday's press conference also saw Mr. Mungantiwar getting cornered over the Pune land scam case involving the party's Mumbai president Raj Purohit. The Bombay High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to file an FIR against Mr. Purohit.
Mr. Mungantiwar faced a volley of questions on whether the party would demand Mr. Purohit's resignation, applying the same criteria of suspicion, as it did for the two Chief Ministers.
“Different case”
The BJP leader said Mr. Purohit's case from different from that of Mr. Ashok Chavan and Mr. Prithviraj Chavan.
“Mr. Purohit was not given a chance to have his say before the court. The inquiry is taking place. If found guilty, he should be jailed. We are demanding the Chief Minister's resignation on the basis of the Prime Minister's statement,” he replied.
The BJP has planned to lead a morcha against “mafia rule” and corruption from Mumbai's Azad Maidan to the Vidhan Bhavan on the opening day of the session.
Asked if Mr. Purohit would be participating in it, Mr. Mungantiwar said all the BJP office-bearers would be part of it.
