The ruling Shiv Sena on Tuesday tried unsuccessfully to corner the BJP-led saffron alliance Government both the floor of the State Assembly over Advocate General Srihari Aney’s remarks over the issue of separate Statehood for Vidarbha region.
Taking on its senior ruling alliance partner BJP for the second time during the ongoing the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature in Nagpur, Sena’s MlA Pratap Sarnaik sought to move a privilege motion in the State Assembly against Aney for controversial remarks about the contentious Vidarbha statehood issue. Speaker Haribhau Bagade rejected the privilege sought to be moved by Sarnaik against Aney.
At a book release function held in Nagpur on December 5, Aney had said that the Centre should hold a referendum on the issue of carving a Vidarbha state out of Maharashtra. He had also said that 80 per cent of people would vote in favour of creating a Vidarbha State.
The Sena’s move against Aney should be seen in the context that the party has consistently opposed the creation of separate Vidharba State on the ground that it is against the division of Maharashtra.