Mumbai: A dramatic confrontation unfolded at the Maharashtra Assembly lobby on Thursday as supporters of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Jitendra Awhad and BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar clashed in the Assembly lobby. The altercation stemmed from a heated argument at the entrance gate and appears to have reignited a long-standing political rivalry.
Reacting to the situation, Jitendra Awhad said, "I do not want to say anything. If MCOCA accused are coming inside (Assembly) and after the plan to kill me was foiled, they are trying to kill my workers, what can be an action more petty than this? If MCOCA accused can come in and hatch a plan to kill...I had been noticing for the past three days that these same people were watching me...But this has crossed all limits...", as reported by the news agency ANI.
Responding to the incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the clash as unfortunate and called for a detailed investigation to be conducted by the Legislative Assembly Speaker and the Council Chairman.
He said, "The situation that occurred is not correct. This comes under the purview of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker and the Maharashtra Legislative Council Speaker. That’s why attention should be given to this issue. Such fights should not happen in Vidhan Bhavan. That’s why a proper investigation should be done on this issue," says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on the clash outside the State Assembly, reportedly between supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad."
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Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was more scathing, saying, "If goons have reached Vidhan Sabha, then State Home Minister and Chief Minister should take responsibility for it. This is very unfortunate. Such conduct at the Vidhan Sabha is not appropriate."
