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The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-led Democratic Front government in Maharashtra was plunged into a major crisis on Monday night with eight independent Members of Legislative Assembly withdrawing support, close on the heels of decisions by three Left parties to pull the rug.
The eight MLAs, accompanied by Shiv Sena leader Gajanan Kiritikar, met Governor P C Alexander at Raj Bhawan and submitted a letter withdrawing support to the government.
The action by the independent MLAs came a day after nine MLAs of Peasants and Workers Party, Janata Dal (Secular) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) decided to withdraw support to the DF government.
Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said he enjoys the support of 149 MLAs, four more than majority in the 288-member state assembly and was ready to prove majority on the floor of the house if the governor asked him to do so.
"For majority, the backing of 145 MLAs is needed. Whenever the governor asks, I am ready to prove majority," he said.
He said his government has the support of Congress (74) NCP (61) as also four members of Republican Party of India and six independents.
The JD (S) had earlier in the day deferred its decision on withdrawing support to the DF government, but agreed in principle to go ahead with such a move along with PWP and CPI (M).
In the 288-member assembly, NCP has 61 members, Congress 74, Shiv Sena 69 and BJP 56 MLAs.
Janata Dal (S) has two members, PWP five, CPM two, Native People's Party one, RPI (Gawai) one, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh three, Gondwana Gantantra Party one and Samajwadi Janata Party one.
The sudden political crisis occurred after the re-induction of NCP leader Sunil Tatkare into the Cabinet, despite protests from the PWP.
There was a flurry of activity in the NCP camp late on Monday night with Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and NCP president Sharad Pawar closeted in talks along with other party leaders.
Before the withdrawal of support by the eight MLAs, the DF combine had the support of nine of the 12 independent MLAs.
Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in state assembly, Narayan Rane, BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari were also closeted in discussions, opposition sources said.
The Sena-BJP combine will urge the governor to convene a special session of the state assembly and ask Deshmukh to prove his majority, the sources added.
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