All parties call for meet to discuss Maratha issue

Mumbai: Even as the issue of Maratha reservation rages on, political parties have called meetings of their legislative members to discuss the matter. The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have called separate meetings and their leaders will meet together on Monday. Similarly, Shiv Sena has contacted its MLAs over the issue and party chief Uddhav Thackeray will guide them.

With the government having decided to call a special session of the state legislature over the Maratha quota stir, all other parties, too, are now meeting their MLAs and MLCs. “We have already supported the Maratha reservation. We will meet our MLAs, MLCs and other leaders, too, for wider consultation,” said Leader of the Opposition Radhakris-hna Vikhe-Patil about the Congress meeting.

NCP leaders, too, have called a meeting of all their MLAs. Afterwards, leaders of both the Congress and NCP will also hold a meeting for a “united stand” of the opposition on the issue. NCP leader Ajit Pawar said, “We have already cleared in the all party meeting that the state government should see to it that reservation will stand in court. We are also ready to cooperate. But the state government must stop the cheating the community.”

Meanwhile, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has also asked his MLAs to reach Mumbai on Monday. “As special legislation will be convened, we too want to discuss our strategy with the MLAs. Shiv Sena has supported the cause of Maratha reservation. Uddhav Thackeray will guide us on the issue,” said Divakar Raote, minister and Sena leader.