'Politics happening in governor's bungalow is very disappointing'

'These frequent political visits to the governor's residence show the state and the office of the governor in bad light.'

"The governor must put an end to political infighting in the state," Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Nana Patole tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com about the ongoing political drama in the state where the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party are engaged in battle.

Keep aside your political differences

The politicians in the state must understand that not just Maharashtra but the entire country is facing a serious situation.

In these circumstances, it is not proper for the state leaders to indulge in political mud-slinging.

The politics of visiting the governor and asking him to impose President's rule is not the right thing to do in this hour of crisis.

This is the time to showcase the true spirit of Maharashtra.

The politics happening in the corridors of governor's bungalow is very disappointing and tarnishes the image of the state.

This is the time to come together, keeping aside their political differences and motives and fight the pandemic.

This is not the time to criticise the government for political benefits; constructive criticism is always welcome and the Opposition must do that without hampering the state government's efforts in dealing with the health crisis.

I request all the political parties that this is not the time to play politics.

Come together and show to the people of Maharashtra that you all can together win this battle against COVID-19.

Help people overcome their fears

This is not the time to play the blame game. And that's what decency and love of the nation demands.

But still if they want to exploit the pandemic for their political benefit, nobody can stop them.

I still request everybody to come together and fight the common enemy, which is COVID-19.

As the speaker this would be my humble request to all the parties in the state.

We have all been playing politics all these years, but now is the time to keep your political differences aside and come together.

This is the time to save the people; help them overcome their insecurities about their jobs and future and the lockdown; help them fight their fears.

Focus your energies on the deadly virus

As the speaker of Maharashtra's legislative assembly, it is my duty to ensure that all the honourable members' rights are protected and help the people of Maharashtra get justice and help in this hour of crisis.

I do not belong to any political party, but I would like to aver that whatever (the politics) is happening in Maharashtra doesn't bring glory to the state.

We often invoke leaders like Chhatrapati (Shivaji Maharaj), Mahatma Phule, Shahu Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar to espouse our political causes but forget their magnanimity, their grace and the vision they envisioned for the progress and well-being of Maharashtra.

The true meaning of progressive Maharashtra is rooted in justice for all.

And if politics is played in the state at this time of pandemic, then this is extremely bad.

Everybody needs to focus right now on how the people can be made to feel safe and secure and tackle the number of rising cases and deaths in the state.

Whatever scenes the state witnessed in the last couple of days doesn't bring glory to the state.

This is not the fight to unseat somebody from power and anoint oneself as the ruler; this is the fight against a worldwide pandemic.

Focus your energies on how you can rid the state of the deadly virus.

Is there a state of emergency in Maharashtra?

As the governor of the state, Bhagat Singh Koshyari enjoys certain rights and privileges and every politician in the state is making a beeline to his residence.

Is there a state of emergency in Maharashtra? These frequent political visits to the governor's residence show the state and the office of the governor in bad light.

The governor of the state enjoys a Constitutional position, but the dramas happening there is not a good sign.

The governor must call a meeting of leaders of all political parties and suggest measures that the state must adopt, and the roles everyone must play, to defeat the disease.

He must instill a sense of confidence in the people of the state and ensure that the government remains stable or ensure that nobody tries to topple it.

The governor must also play his role to ensure that the people of Maharashtra get justice and put an end to political one-upmanship and infighting in the state.