Maharashtra Revenue Minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated on Tuesday that Jagdeep Dhankhar had a spotless life, making it inappropriate to cast suspicion on his resignation as Vice President, reported news agency PTI.
This comes after Vice President Dhankhar, 74, resigned on Monday, the first day of Parliament`s monsoon session, citing medical reasons. He submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. The Vice President of India also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
On Tuesday, the Congress claimed the true reasons behind Dhankhar`s resignation were “far deeper” than the health issues he cited. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that Dhankhar “took umbrage” because Union Ministers J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju skipped a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, reported PTI.
Nadda, however, clarified on Tuesday that the Vice President`s office had been informed that he and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju would not attend the BAC meeting convened by Dhankhar on Monday evening, shortly before his resignation.
When asked about the questions surrounding Dhankhar`s departure, Bawankule responded, “If someone`s health is not well and he cannot serve justice while being in that post, then the person has to take such decision in that situation.” He added, “I feel whatever reason he has given is right, because there cannot be any other reason. Dhankhar ji has a spotless life and it is not right to have such suspicions about him.”
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate announced on Tuesday that he would take legal action against opposition leaders who “defamed” him by sharing a video purportedly showing him playing a game of `rummy` on his mobile phone in the legislative council last week during the legislature`s monsoon session.
According to PTI, Kokate also stated he would write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and legislative council chairperson Ram Shinde to investigate the video, promising to resign immediately if found guilty.
Regarding Kokate`s situation, Bawankule remarked, “Kokateji himself has expressed his position. (CM) Devendra ji has said an inquiry will be done and if something comes out, then Kokate ji himself has spoken in that regard, so it would not be right for me to say anything on it.”
Furthermore, addressing a query on alleged differences among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies over the next leader of opposition in the legislative council, Bawankule claimed there were so many disputes within the MVA that its leaders could not even hold a joint press conference on the last day of the legislature`s monsoon session (on July 18).
“They did press conferences separately and with this, we can understand who will become the opposition leader from them as all three of them (referring to MVA constituents Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP-SP) are fighting with each other,” he said.
The tenure of Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve, who currently serves as the leader of opposition in the council, is set to end next month.
(With inputs from PTI)