The stand-off between the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-BJP alliance Government and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) reached a flashpoint on Friday, as the MVA constituents boycotted the proceedings of both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature in protest among other things against the suspension of senior NCP leader Jayant Patil, reopening of the Disha Salian murder case.

The Opposition parties were also protest against the “silence” of Ekanth Shinde government over the aggressive stand taken by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai over the Maharashtra-Karanataka border row.

The boycott by the proceedings in both the Houses came a day after the ruling dispensation forced the NCP leader’s suspension over his remarks against  Speaker Rahul Narvekar and ordered a  CID inquiry into death of Disha Salian, manager of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Sporting black ribbons, the Opposition leaders and legislators – including leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar of the NCP, Sena (UBT) leaders Aditya Thackeray and Bhaskar Jadhav, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat – demonstrated at the entrance of the Vidhan Bhavan in protest against the state government not allowing them to speak on the issues of public importance. The raised slogans against the Shinde government.

Talking to media persons, Ajit Pawar said: “ We have decided to boycott the proceedings in both the Houses in protest against the suspension of our leader Jayant Patil from the House for reason and reopening of the Disha Salian case as an act of political vendetta. In addition, the State government has chosen to remain silent on the aggressive stand taken by the Karnataka chief minister on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border row”.      

Hitting out at the Shinde government for reopening the Disha Salian murder case, Pawar said: “The SIT probe ordered by the state government in the Disha Salian case was unnecessary and childish. Actreess Rhea Chakrabory had already clarified that AU means her friend Ananya Udhas. However, the ruling alliance is reading AU as Aaditya Thackeray”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray and former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that the Opposition had decided to stay away from the proceedings in the Assembly till allowed them to speak in the House.