Q. How do you look at the developments in Maharashtra?
A. We have seen this kind of situation in the past with the Shiv Sena. And we have also seen what was the result. This time, the situation is a little different. In the past, when I was Congress chief minister, Chhagan Bhujbal joined us with 19 MLAs. We had to give them full protection for six months. Ultimately, only one of them could win the elections again in 1995. Even Bhujbal lost. My observation is that people do not like this kind of mass exodus. This is defection.
Q. The Shiv Sena clearly does not have the numbers right now.
A. It is not a question of the Shiv Sena alone, this is a three-party government of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress. As of now, it looks like there are 38 or 39 MLAs from the Shiv Sena who have gone to the other side. Ultimately, it is a coalition government. It will affect all three parties. We have to admit that if the same situation continues, the results will not be favourable for us. But there is also the possibility that some MLAs are in touch with the Shiv Sena leadership and with some of us. They said it was difficult for them to leave right now as they were surrounded by the police and BJP workers. So unless and until they reach here (Mumbai), it will be difficult for us to discuss things with them. We are confident that the moment they come here, they will tell us that they were taken away forcibly and that they are with the Shiv Sena.
Q. Do you think the BJP is behind all this?
This story is from the July 10, 2022 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 10, 2022 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
War Over Wounded Earth
For the BJP andthe Congress, the ravaged farmlands of Vidarbha represent a cxitieal battleground in their larger struggle to win Maharashtra
Say no to continual elections
Following the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind to streamline the widely scattered schedule of national, state and local elections, the Union cabinet has reportedly approved two constitutional amendment bills for likely introduction in Parliament. Predictably, the return of the ‘one nation, one election’ issue to news has set off a flurry of objections by several opposition leaders.
Fabulously, fashionably funny
The third season of the Karan Johar-produced Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives dropped on Netflix, but articles criticising the show appear in some news site or the other almost daily. If it is so bad, why keep writing about it? And if it is so bad, why would the superpowers at Netflix, who are harder to meet than the prime minister, commission the show season after season?
All in the family
The Chitaras have been passing down the secret art of Mata Ni Pachedi through generations for more than 400 years now
Raise a toast to Vidya Balan
Vidya Balan is a New Year baby. At 45, she is aglow in the most beautiful way, having won the hearts and admiration of countless fans across the world, who watched the supremely talented actor take a public tumble on stage at a high-profile promotional event recently, sharing the platform with no less a dancer than the eternally graceful Madhuri Dixit.
Death no bar
Being alive is not a legal requirement to be elected president of the United States
The Lotus POTUS
You should visit us one of these days— there is so much excitement in our USA! No, I don’t mean the famous USA—the Ulhasnagar Sindhi Association of Mumbai.
RAY OF HOPE
Actor and cancer survivor Lisa Ray talks to oncologist Dr Jame Abraham about inner strength and her surrogacy journey
LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK
AT THE WEEK Health Summit, Siddharth Bagga, head (retail, CPG and health care), Google Cloud, elaborated on the significant work that Google has been doing in health care through artificial intelligence (AI).
PRESSURE POINTS
Author and MP Shashi Tharoor and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das on how to find healing and meaning in today's world
