Quiet tea party before stormy winter session of the Maharashtra legislature in Nagpur

For the first time in over three years, the Opposition attended the customary tea party hosted by the CM on the eve of the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur, albeit with a difference.

An announcement was made that no tea or snacks will be served as the Centre on Friday announced a five-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Nelson Mandela.

On Sunday, BJP leader and the leader of opposition Eknath Khadse, said, “We will  meet him to raise matters pertinent to the state.”

However, Opposition leader in the council, Vinod Tawde, said they would target the CM, who “projects a clean image while supporting the corrupt”.

He said the government will be targeted for failure of law and order and on Vidarbha. “There’s a rise in extortion, rape, robbery and dacoity cases. Six cops were involved in a gang rape in Solapur,” said Khadse, criticising the government for trying to bury committees appointed to look into corruption issues. He said  he had submitted a list of 52 corruption cases to the CM who has not taken any action.

Khadse also alleged that the state’s debts had risen to Rs 2.82lakh crore. He said the chief minister was not taking policy decisions and no policies were being framed.