Maharashtra A-G quits after uproar over statehood

State cabinet to recommend the Governor to accept Aney's resignation

Maharashtra Advocate-General Shrihari Aney on Tuesday submitted his resignation to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, following an uproar in the Assembly over his demanding statehood for Marathwada.

The BJP’s ruling partner, the Shiv Sena, and Opposition parties had demanded Aney’s suspension. Aney had on Sunday at a function demanded that Marathwada be made a state. The Shiv Sena had threatened that its ministers won’t attend cabinet meetings and its legislators won’t participate in the proceedings of the legislature unless the government sacked him.

When the Assembly convened on Wednesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Aney had submitted his papers to the governor. The government had disowned Aney’s statement on statehood for Marathwada region, he said. The Opposition wanted to know if the governor had accepted Aney’s resignation. Congress and NCP legislators entered the well and shouted slogans. Some Sena legislators waved Aney’s photo and demanded that he apologise.

But Speaker Haribhau Bagde disallowed debate on the chief minister’s statement and asked members to raise questions. However, Opposition members tried to rake up Aney’s resignation while Sena members preferred to sit quiet. Fadnavis said the A-G’s post was a constitutional one. “Governor accepts resignation or seek state cabinet's advice.” He said the state cabinet would suggest to the governor that Aney’s resignation be accepted.