Days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah indicated disapproval of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on reopening of temples, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that now it is up to him whether to stay on the post or resign. Pawar also stated that a person with self-respect may step down.
Addressing a press conference in Tuljapur in Osmanabad district of Marathwada, he also refuted the claim of opposition that CM Uddhav Thackeray is not stepping out of the home. "CM was coordinating the work while the ministers were on the field. It's important for a person at the higher post to coordinate administrative machinery and do planning and review implementation," added Pawar.
"Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are working closely and running the govt in the state. I can understand that BJP which ruled the state for the last five years may not be happy," said Pawar.
While talking about the BJP leader Eknath Khadse joining NCP, Pawar stated that Khadse's contribution to the state as leader of opposition and finance minister cannot be undermined though he has been now neglected in his own party. Pawar also stated that now, Khadse has to take a call.
Speaking about the issue of Maratha reservation and the role of Udayanraje Bhosale and Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, Pawar said that both of them are king themselves and he cannot tell them what to do.
After meeting the farmers in the flood-affected region in Maharashtra, Pawar on Sunday said he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek assistance for farmers who have suffered losses due to heavy rains in Maharashtra.
The former Union minister visited Kankarbawadi, Sastur villages in Osmanabad district of Marathwada region in the morning and interacted with farmers affected by the heavy rains that lashed parts of the state over the past few days.
Heavy rains and floods have claimed at least 48 lives in Maharashtra's Pune, Konkan and Aurangabad divisions while crops on lakhs of hectares have been damaged extensively.
(With inputs from PTI)
