Chennai: Strongly condemning the Maharashtra Governor for ushering in the BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the new Chief Minister in the early hours of Friday after revoking President's role at a pre-dawn 5.47 am, on the basis of a "dubious letter of support" from Ajit Pawar, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Azhagiri termed it a "black day in Indian democracy".
Charging the BJP in Maharashtra with "capturing power by cutting corners", Mr. Azhagiri said in a statement here on Saturday that there could not be a more blatant example of horse-trading and money power deciding the new rulers, as Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Ajit Pawar, nephew of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, were sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively.
Expressing deep shock and pain at this "murder of democracy" in Maharashtra, the Congress leader said the Governor's action raised several doubts, left people wondering whether he was being the "handmaiden" of the BJP, given the swiftness and urgency with which Mr. Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in. The BJP has performed a coup of sorts, unable to tolerate the prospect of not being able to form a government in Maharashtra without the Shiv Sena's support, he said.
Mr. Azhagiri drew attention to certain past developments, saying Mr. Ajit Pawar was already charged earlier by the Fadnavis government in a huge irrigation scheme scam and Ajit Pawar also charged in a case of a financial scam in the Maharashtra Central Cooperative Bank running to several crores of rupees. "Ajit Pawar has compromised with the BJP to protect himself from these cases," he alleged, adding, this government would not last long. The new Fadnavis government is most likely to lose the vote of confidence on November 30, he said, adding, a proper government will be installed in Maharashtra.
