‘MNS against reaching compromise with govt’

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seems to be positioning itself as a credible opposition, with MNS chief Raj Thackeray criticising the other Opposition parties for being pro-government, on Sunday.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seems to be positioning itself as a credible opposition, with MNS chief Raj Thackeray criticising the other Opposition parties for being pro-government, on Sunday.

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“They [major Opposition parties including the BJP and Shiv Sena] raise one issue in the morning and later in the day arrive at a settlement with the government,” he said after all his legislators skipped a joint meeting of Opposition parties on Sunday ahead of the Budget Session of the State Legislature.

Thackeray blamed the opposition leader for taking up all the time allotted to the Opposition in the Legislature. “Why should just Eknath Khadse [Opposition leader in the Assembly] raise issues? Our MLAs, too, have sound knowledge of issues but they are not allowed to speak. They will raise issues to show what the opposition can do.”

He said MNS legislators were against reaching a compromise with the government.

Thackeray also blamed NCP leaders for the drought situation in the state. “The dams could not be built as NCP ministers were involved in corruption.”

Earlier in the day, Khadse said he was the leader of Opposition and the issues he raised were opinions of all parties, including the MNS. “I made phone calls and sent invites to the press conference to all opposition parties. A senior leader’s secretary who picked up his phone said he was busy in a meeting after which there was no call back,” he told the media.