Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari leaves Vidhan Bhavan amid chaos

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari arrives on the first day of the Maharashtra assembly budget session. Pics/Suresh Karkera

In an unprecedented turn of events on the first day of the budget session on Thursday, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari left the Central Hall at the Vidhan Bhavan without completing his address to the joint sitting of the state legislature amid slogans by members.

When Koshyari took to the stage, Maha Vikas Aghadi legislators raised slogans against him. They protested against the governor's remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who they cheered while showing their ire against Koshyari. Soon, the opposition raised slogans demanding the sacking of senior MVA minister Nawab Malik, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate.

Koshyari, who had just begun reading out the speech, wound up as chaos reigned supreme. He read out some lines from the address which is considered a statement that the government prepares listing its achievements. The governor walked out, followed by the presiding officers of both houses. He left the Vidhan Bhavan premises immediately.

Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Daund protests by doing shirshasana on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan

The incident started a verbal war between the MVA and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both blamed each other for insulting the governor, the constitutional head of state. They crossed paths outside as well. Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Daund protested by doing shirshasana (headstand) on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan.

‘Planned insult'

Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis accused the MVA of planning in advance the governor's insult. "It is the government that has insulted and disrespected the governor time and again. They did it again despite the governor's explanation (in a row that his remarks had caused). The MVA does it because it wants the tussle (between the Raj Bhavan and government) to go on," he said, adding that it was the government's responsibility to let the governor continue his address. Environment minister and Sena leader, Aaditya Thackeray said the governor's sudden exit was shocking and amounted to the insult of the state. "It is a thing to be ashamed of."

State Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and water resources minister, Jayant Patil blamed the BJP members for forcing the governor's walk-out. "The BJP stooped low while raising the slogans. The governor felt bad about the ruckus caused by the BJP and left. I think the governor should have completed his speech, but he quit before the joint session ended with the national anthem," said Patil.

‘Resolution to remove guv'

State Congress president Nana Patole demanded an apology from the governor for his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "He behaves like a BJP worker. We want him replaced. We are verifying the legality of tabling a resolution to get him removed from Raj Bhavan," he said.

Thursday's incident was added to the long list of rows between the Raj Bhavan and the Uddhav Thackeray government. The latest was about the Speaker's election that the government planned to hold in the last session. The government said it wants to elect the speaker in the budget session. It has sought the governor's consent which was held up for verifying the legality of the MVA's decision of going ahead with voice vote, instead of secret ballot, for election.