MVA-BJP tussle intensifies after Governor Koshyari walkout from House

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Koshyari’s conduct reflected the “low level politics” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government.

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday attacked Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari saying his conduct reflected the “low level politics” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari leaves Vidhan Bhavan on the first day of the state assembly budget session, in Mumbai on March 3. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

The statement comes after Koshyari stormed out of the Vidhan Bhawan without completing his address on the opening day of the state’s Budget session on March 3 amid sloganeering by legislators from all parties. Since then the hostilities between the ruling Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition and the opposition BJP has intensified.

Pawar — whose party is part of the MVA along with the Shiv Sena and the Congress — asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind to look into the governor’s conduct.

“I have seen great people like Sri Prakasa and PC Alexander as the governor of Maharashtra and in that list the name of the current governor (Koshyari) is being added. He is one of the examples of low-level (politics) of the (BJP-led) central government,” Pawar said.

The Shiv Sena sought the recall of Koshyari by the Centre, with party MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut accusing Koshyari of behaving “more like a BJP state unit president” than a governor.

“Democracy and independence in the country are in peril due to such political functionaries who are occupying constitutional positions,” Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, said.

Senior BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, meanwhile, said Koshyari was being targeted by some MVA leaders as the governor was reminding the state government of shortcomings in legislation and amendments. Fadnavis said the governor was working as per the Constitution whereas the state government was not. “The amendments and laws being framed by the state government are not in keeping with the Constitution. When the governor points this out, he is targeted. This is absolutely wrong,” he said.

BJP legislator Atul Bhatkhalkar said: “Instead of targeting the governor, Pawar, Thackeray and Raut must look after the messy affairs of the state. Farmers are suffering and a farmer died by suicide as his electricity connection was disconnected. Instead of playing politics, they must focus on these issues. They have no right to say so (to seek the recall of the governor)... they are creating fake narratives to deflect attention from the failures of the government.”

Constitutional experts said though the state government could request the President to recall a governor, but it is not binding.

“The governor is appointed at the pleasure of the President, who in turn, acts as per the advice of the prime minister. The governor can be removed by the President. The state government or legislature can make a request to the President [to recall his appointment], though it is not binding. The party in power at the Centre must consult the chief minister before appointing the governor,” said Ulhas Bapat, professor of constitutional law.