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No-confidence likely against Sena-BJP govt: Pichad

Madhukar Pichad, leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, announced that the Opposition is likely to table a motion of no-confidence against the Shiv Sena-BJP government if it is not allowed to debate on the Srikrishna Commission report.

The report will be tabled on July 20 during the forthcoming monsoon session, according to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi.

Speaking about his recent meetings with the Congress high command regarding cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha election, Pichad said: "What kind of loyalists are these people! They are traitors who helped the alliance government. Because of them the Congress has to remain out of power."

About the meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar, Pichad said the party president may have asked Pawar to shoulder the responsibility of identifying the legislators who cross-voted. Earlier Pichad and now sacked Congress president Ranjit Deshmukh met senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia and appraised him about the situation in Maharashtra.

In a tete-a-tete with some select reporters, Pichad criticised Chhagan Bhujbal, Opposition leader in the Legislative Council. When asked about Bhujbal's whereabouts, Pichad retorted: "Lakhoba (as Bhujbal is derisively termed by Shiv Sena leaders after he switched sides to the Congress) went to London at a time when we needed him to fight with us. Even though Pawar has returned from London, Bhujbal has not. I don't understand what disease he is suffering from."

Later, however, Pichad sought to deny having passed such remarks. In a faxed statement, Pichad said, "I only said Chagan Bhujbal has gone to London for some medical treatment."

When some reporters contacted Pichad on telephone, he said, "I am clarifying the matter so that no one could put malicious statements about Bhujbal in my mouth."

Compiled from the Marathi media by Prasanna D Zore

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