Maharashtra Minister expelled by party

MUMBAI, DEC. 26. Mr. Makhram Pawar, Commerce and Industry Minister in the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led coalition Maharashtra Government, was expelled by his party, the Bharatiya Republican Paksh-Bahujan Mahasangh, today for not heeding its directive to quit the post following a decision earlier to ``withdraw from the Government''. Mr. Prakash Ambedkar is the national chief of the BRP-BMS.

Though Mr. Pawar was asked to resign as early as on December 11 because of the party's difference of opinion with the Government on the issue of expensive power from the Enron- sponsored Dabhol Power Company and the equivocation on statehood for Vidarbha, the Minister has remained in the Government. Today, the party asked Mr. Deshmukh to sack him.

This party, which was once part of the united Republican Party of India, clarified that ``as of this moment, we continue to be part of the coordination committee of the parties in Government and are supporting it''. The BRP-BMS has given time till January 1 for Mr. Makhram Pawar to resign or for Mr. Deshmukh to sack him.

Mr. Deshmukh has hitherto pointed out that whether Mr. Pawar resigns or not is an internal matter of the party which even now continues to be part of the ruling alliance.

He has not had any message conveyed to Mr. Ambedkar who says the decision to withdraw from the Government was unanimous in the party and Mr. Pawar has to fall in line. Now, the party, by expelling him, has lost control over him.

Two other members of the party, Dr. Dashrath Bhande and Mr. Prof. Ranjit Meshram, who head two public sector units and are two of the party's three MLAs, have resigned the posts but it is only Mr. Pawar who has been recalcitrant.

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