Date:02/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/02/stories/2007110255901300.htm

National

Congress-NCP coalition inefficient: Shiv Sena

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: As the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government in Maharashtra completed three years on Thursday, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramdas Kadam said the coalition was “inefficient” and it had failed to curb suicides by farmers.

The Shiv Sena leader’s criticism comes amid Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s claim that the coalition was successful in tackling various issues, and suicides by farmers had come down.

The Sena has launched agitations on the issue of price rise and Special Economic Zones.

Mr. Kadam told journalists that the Sena was planning to boycott the winter session of the legislature in Nagpur, which was advanced to November 19 from December 3 due to the Gujarat elections.

The Shiv Sena would soon meet the Governor on the issue.

Mumbaikars’ interests

He said the government’s hurry to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling Regulation Act would only help builders.

The interests of Mumbaikars would be affected if the Act was repealed, he said.

The party had brought out a booklet that contains criticism of the government on issues such as farmers’ suicides, malnutrition, lack of electricity, poor quality of rations and increasing crimes again women and Dalits.