With the BJP-led Opposition continuing to clamour for his resignation, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday that he would take a call on putting in his papers after taking his party legislators into confidence.
Talking to mediapersons at Satara in western Maharashtra, Ajit said: “As for the demand for my resignation, it is Opposition’s right to do so. When I resigned from my post last time over the publication of a White Paper on irrigation, I had promised my legislators that if a similar situation arose in future, I would take a decision only after taking into confidence my party MlAs who made me their legislative party leader”.
Dwelling on the raging controversy over his “urine” and “making babies during load shedding hours” remarks, Ajitdada said: “ I have already explained to the people through media and to members in both the Houses of State legislature that I committed a blunder. I should not have spoken like that. It is not good on the part of the Opposition to rake up the issue repeatedly and keep it alive. As far as the stand taken by the Opposition parties are concerned, it is their internal matter. That’s why I have nothing to comment on the stand taken by them”.
In a related development, newly appointed State BJP president and three-time MlA from Nagpur Devendra Fadnavis reiterated the Opposition’s demand for Ajitdada’s resignation. “At a meeting of leader of the Assembly Eknath Khadse, his counterpart in the Council Vinod Tawde and group leaders of various legislative parties met on Wednesday, we resolved that we are firm on seeking the resignation of Ajitdada. We decided to fight the issue on the floor of the two House and on also streets,” he said.