Team News Riveting
Bhopal, March 7
Former Minister and lawmaker Jitu Patwari landed his party Congress in a dilemma by boycotting the Governor’s customary address in the Legislative Assembly.
Patwari referred to the text of the Governor’s address as a reason to boycott, surprisingly, before it was tabled in the House. The ruling BJP took a strong note on the “leak” of the Governor’s address to launch a frontal attack on the opposition Congress.
On the first day of the monsoon session, the opposition Congress went on a backfoot. The rift among Congress legislators could be gauged by the fact that Patwari was the only legislator to boycott the Governor’s address as the party preferred to keep a distance.
Leader of Opposition Kamal Nath was quick to respond; stating that it was Patwari’s personal decision and not of Congress party. Though planning to grill the ruling party on several issues during the Budget session of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly that started today, Congress found itself in a defensive mood at the onset.
However, Kamal Nath has written a letter to the Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh urging to extend the session till March 31 so that issues of public interests can be included in the business of the House.
During his address that lasted for over half-an-hour, Governor Mangubhai Patel said the separate child budget to be presented was a unique initiative in the country.
