BJP MLA, Maharashtra Oppn leaders ask Guv to remove Dhanajaya Munde from cabinet

Mumbai: In a rare development, an all-party delegation comprising opposition and ruling party MLAs and leaders, met Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan demanding the resignation of Nationalist Congress Party minister Dhananjay Munde from the Cabinet. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas was part of the delegation that is now causing friction within the BJP-led state government.

The delegation was led by former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhaji Raje, Bajrang Sonawane NCP (SP) MP from Beed, Ashti MLA from BJP Suresh Dhas, Sandeep Kshirsagar NCP(SP) MLA from Beed and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar.

"We have informed the governor of the lawlessness in Beed. We have requested the governor that Munde should resign as minister until the inquiry is complete and we want the police to file a case of murder against Valmik Karad," said Sambhaji Raje.


Speaking to the media later, Dhas said, "We told the governor that Munde should resign as he could try to influence the probe, or he should be made a minister without any portfolio."

Dhas being part of the delegation which met the governor has caused friction within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance as the NCP(Ajit) has been pressuring the BJP to rein in Dhas who has been raising the murder of Massajog Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh who was killed on December 9.

Hours after the meeting, Dhananjay Munde met Deputy CM Ajit Pawar while Dhas met CM Devendra Fadnavis. Dhas has been making sensational allegations against Munde claiming that the latter was himself involved in the extortion of the Avaada group.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who is also the revenue minister, pulled up Dhas saying, "I have spoken to Dhas a couple of times. He should be raising these issues within the party and to the government."