The Opposition in Maharashtra on Sunday demanded that the winter Assembly session, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, be extended by two weeks. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, however, rejected the demand, saying the session’s timetable was “appropriate.”
Accompanied by leaders of the Shiv Sena, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadase said two weeks for winter session was “ too little” to discuss all the issues pertaining to the Vidarbha region.
“The winter session takes place in Nagpur so that the issues and problems of Vidarbha can be discussed. Out of two weeks granted for the session, two days will be lost in condolences and congratulatory motions. Only six days of actual work will be done, which is too less. This is injustice to the people of Vidarbha. The session should be extended by at least two weeks,” he told the media outside the Chief Minister’s residence.
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However, Mr. Chavan said adequate time was granted to the Opposition and ruling parties to raise and discuss important issues. “We hope the Opposition parties cooperate with us so that maximum work can be done in the allotted time.” Eleven new bills, he added, would be introduced in the House and four pending bills would also be discussed.
‘Need to introspect’
Reacting to the Assembly election results, Mr. Chavan said: “We went to the people with an agenda of development. But with these results we need to do introspection and course correction.”
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Dabholkar murder case
On the Dabholkar murder case, he said the government was not “misleading” the people. “The State Home Minister will answer all the queries on the floor of the house,” he said.