Six MLAs resign amid reservation stir

Mumbai: Even as the agitation for Maratha reservation continues, resignations over the issue have become commonplace, what with six MLAs from parties such as the BJP, Congress and NCP have resigned till Thursday. The speaker of the assembly Haribhau Bagde clarified that the resignations would not be accepted till the winter session.

Four MLAs resigned on Thursday, including MLA Bharat Bhalke (Congress) from Mangalwedha-Pandharpur constituency; NCP MLA Ramesh Kadam from Mohol constituency; and BJP MLAs Rahul Aher from Chandwad, and Seema Hire from Nashik west constituency.

Sena MLA Harshvardhan Rathod from Kannad constituency and Bhausaheb Chikatgaonkar from Vaijapur resigned on Wednesday.

All MLAs sent their resignation letters to the speaker via mail. However, the resignations would be accepted in the winter session, said Mr Bagde. The resignation of Maratha MLAs across parties is putting a lot of pressure on the government.

Meanwhile, amid rumours of a change of guard in the state government, independent MLA Ravi Rana, who is a supporter of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, cleared his stand that six independent MLAs would not support the BJP government if it replaced Mr Fadnavis as CM.