My statement misunderstood by Shiv Sena: Sudhir Mungantiwar

Mumbai: Even as the impasse between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena showed no sign of ending, the latter on Saturday slammed finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar for his remark about President’s rule, calling it “anti-democratic”

Mr Mungantiwar faced the Sena’s ire over his statement that there could be President’s rule if the current deadlock did not end soon.

However, Mr Mungantiwar Friday told The Asian Age that there was no question of imposition of President’s rule as the BJP and Sena would form the government before November 7.

The Saamana editorial Saturday quoted Mr Mungantiwar as having said, “A new government will have to be in place within the stipulated time, or else the President will have to intervene. President's rule will be imposed if the government formation doesn't happen in the given time.”

Terming Mr Mungantiwar's comment as “undemocratic and unconstitutional”, the editorial went on to say, “The statement shows the lack of knowledge about the Constitution and the rule of law. This ‘threat’ might be a move to sidestep the established norms and get things done the way one wants. This statement is an insult to the mandate of the people.”

The editorial titled “Insult to Maharashtra, Is the President in your pocket?”, then questioned Mr Mungantiwar stating, “What should the common people make out of the ‘threat’ issued by Mr Mungantiwar? Is it supposed to mean that the President of India is in the BJP's pocket or that the seal of the President is lying in the BJP office in Maharashtra? Are these people trying to convey that the BJP could impose President's rule in Maharashtra using that seal in the event the party is not able to form its government?”

However, Mr Mungantiwar said that the Sena had misinterpreted his statement.

Reacting to the editorial, he said, “I was asked a question by journalists as to what will happen if the government is not formed before November 7, to which, I explained the procedure. I never claimed that President’s rule will be imposed in Maharashtra.”