Opposition parties gearing up to corner Fadnavis over poor drought relief works during Monsoon Session

The opposition parties will take on the state government for the absence of drought relief works during the coming Monsoon Session of the Assembly, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde said here on Sunday.

"The Monsoon Session begins on Monday and will continue till July 2. The opposition will target the state government on the absence of drought relief work in the state and the corruption cases which have taken place in the past five years," said Munde said at a joint press conference here.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar and other prominent opposition leaders were also present at the press conference here.

Munde also targeted Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for his visit to Ayodhya and said the BJP ally was more interested in outside affairs than helping the people of the state.

"Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray went on a foreign trip without showing any concern over the difficulties being faced by the people. Their ministers have corruption charges against them. Prakash Mehta is an accused in a case but no action has been taken against him," Munde said.

Talking about the invite by the government for a tea party to be held later today, Munde said: "No opposition leader will go to the tea party of the government. At a time when the companies are going away from Maharashtra to Gujarat, we cannot be with them."

NCP leader Pawar also lashed out at the state government.

"This government is an expert in luring the opposition leaders. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was included in the state Cabinet today, while the people have got nothing," he said.

"Neither Muslims have got any reservations nor was this extended to the Dhangar community. The maximum number of farmer suicides has also been reported in the state. The government has no answer for all this," said Pawar.

The Maharashtra Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was expanded on Sunday with the induction of former Congressman and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, BJP's city unit chief Ashish Shelar and other leaders.