NCP flashes Maratha card, plays down Mete’s exit

Reeling under the blow of Maratha leader Vinayak Mete suddenly switching over to the BJP-led alliance in the state, the NCP Thursday got other leaders of the outfit Shiv Sangram, which Mete too represented, to declare their support to the ruling Democratic Front (DF) alliance.
Shiv Sangram is at the forefront of the demand for reservations for the Maratha community.

While Mete moved away from the NCP citing non-fulfillment of this very demand, Annasaheb Salunkhe, the outfit’s general secretary, said the outfit did not approve of Mete’s move.

“Following our demand, the DF government appointed that Narayan Rane committee and has already accepted its report in principle. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has clarified that the same could not be declared or implemented immediately since the model code of conduct was in place,” Salunkhe said. “We have been assured that the reservations would soon be declared,” he added.

Salunkhe said the outfit had decided to give the government another two months to implement the reservation.