Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Celebration (NCP) chief, Jitendra Awhad, introduced his resolution to resign from his put up as member of the Maharashtra meeting (MLA) Monday, amidst a unbroken chilly conflict between him and state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The announcement follows a three-day drama over the MLA being booked for alleged forcible cancellation of the screening of a Marathi film within the state’s Thane district, his arrest, being launched on bail, and subsequently being accused of outraging a lady’s modesty at an occasion Sunday.
“I can tolerate something, however this allegation beneath part 354 of IPC (Indian Penal Code part regarding assault or use of prison drive on any girl, meaning to outrage or understanding it to be probably that her modesty can be outraged) is one thing I can’t tolerate. I’ve been in politics for the previous 35 years. Politics ought to occur, however stooping to this stage and placing allegations is mistaken,” Awhad mentioned at a press convention.
The NCP has slammed the allegations towards the MLA as “targetting” of Awhad, since he’s a crucial voice from Shinde’s dwelling turf, Thane.
Whereas Awhad’s constituency, Mumbra-Kalwa, is a part of the Thane district, Thane Metropolis is Shinde’s hometown. Following the loss of life of Shiv Sena chief Anand Dighe — who loved a stronghold in Thane — final yr, Shinde has emerged because the dominant voice within the district.
“Eknath Shinde has a maintain over Thane district and NCP has no different face than Jitendra Awhad in that constituency. So each need to keep and show their maintain. Therefore for the previous few years, there’s a fixed completion to take credit score,” mentioned political analyst Hemant Desai.
Including {that a} new energy centre within the type of Shrikant Shinde, CM Shinde’s son and member of Parliament from Kalyan (additionally in Thane district) was rising, Desai mentioned, “And therefore Awhad can also be choosing up emotional points to remain related. Additionally, Mumbra is a Muslim-dominated constituency and with Shinde taking the Hindutva route, it’s all the extra vital for Awhad to maintain his constituency intact and for Shinde to not lose his maintain over the district.”
Whereas chatting with the media Monday night, CM Shinde mentioned, “I’m not conscious if he (Awhad) has submitted his resignation or not. However police will examine this matter and resolve whether or not there may be benefit within the grievance or not. We aren’t performing out of vendetta.”
Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Rahul Narvekar, has in the meantime mentioned that he hasn’t obtained any resignation from Awhad. “I nonetheless haven’t obtained any resignation from Awhad or some other chief. Awhad is a senior member who has been working as an MLA for the previous 15-odd years. So if in any respect he has to resign, he is aware of who’s the best particular person to submit his resignation to.”
Additionally learn: ‘Important for democracy’: In MVA present of power, allies be part of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra
The instances towards Awhad
The Mumbra-Kalwa MLA was embroiled in an issue final week when he allegedly forcibly cancelled the screening of a Marathi film, Har Har Mahadev, claiming that it distorted historic information about Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha historical past and “shouldn’t be allowed to be screened within the state”.
The FIR registered within the case booked the MLA and a number of other NCP staff beneath IPC sections associated to rioting, voluntarily inflicting harm and upsetting breach of belief. Awhad was additionally accused of assaulting the moviegoers, which he has denied doing.
The MLA was arrested Friday, together with different 11 different NCP staff, however launched on bail a day later.
However whereas attending the inauguration of a brand new bridge in his constituency Sunday, an occasion the place CM Shinde was additionally current, Awhad allegedly pushed a lady, grabbing her with each palms.
Whereas the MLA has claimed that he was attempting to make his method by the group, the girl — a social activist and BJP Mahila Morcha chief — has accused him of outraging her modesty.
“You progress folks apart with one hand, whilst you use each your palms to seize the girl and transfer her apart. That’s not achieved. FIR has been registered. So I demand that no matter is there in legislation, it ought to be relevant to him as effectively,” she informed the media Monday.
Shinde vs Awhad
In keeping with political analysts Shinde and Awhad have lengthy been concerned in a credit conflict in Thane.
Even at Sunday’s occasion, Shrikant Shinde and Awhad had been engaged in a disagreement over who constructed the bridge
Whereas Shrikant Shinde mentioned that the challenge had been delayed and was accomplished after the current authorities beneath CM Shinde and vice CM Devendra Fadnavis got here to energy earlier this yr, Awhad countered this by saying that it was a authorities work and had began throughout his tenure as MLA.
Even when the previous united Shiv Sena (beneath Uddhav Thackeray) and the NCP had been coalition companions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities (which collapsed earlier this yr after the Eknath Shinde-led revolt which noticed a division within the Sena), Awhad and Sinde had been engaged in a credit conflict over one other bridge, inaugurated in Kharegaon in Kalwa, Thane, in January this yr.
Awhad had mentioned then that the actual growth of Kalwa began when he turned the MLA in 2009, Shinde claimed no person ought to take credit score for the bridge as all events had labored collectively.
In keeping with Desai, it’s now Shrikant Shinde who’s attempting to ascertain himself within the district, thus intensifying the credit conflict and energy play right here.
‘Awhad solely voice from Thane talking towards govt’
In the meantime, NCP leaders have come out in assist of Awhad.
NCP state chief Jayant Patil mentioned Monday that the police must clarify their actions, since they allegedly registered the case late at evening, whereas the incident occurred within the night in entrance of police personnel.
He added: “Evidently Awhad has turn out to be the eyesore of the opponents and authorities. There isn’t any one from the district talking towards the federal government and therefore he’s being focused.”
One other social gathering colleague, Ajit Pawar, added: “I insist that the best way this case has been registered is mistaken and it must be withdrawn. Additionally, I want to enchantment to Awhad to not take such a step (not resign).”
He additional mentioned that the case was registered regardless of the CM being current “simply 10 metres away” and “within the video (of the occasion) it’s seen that he (Awhad) is asking the group to maneuver apart and was additionally attempting to make the girl step apart. Nothing extra occurred. The chief minister ought to come ahead and clarify that nothing of this kind occurred”.
Awhad has in the meantime mentioned that he has spoken to NCP chief Sharad Pawar about his resignation and “Pawar and different senior leaders of the social gathering will resolve whether or not or to not settle for this resignation or not”.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
Additionally learn: The massive image: Maharashtra forward in FDI, however stability & Delhi hand serving to Gujarat catch up