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- By Parinda News Bureau, January 31, 2006, 13:44 IST
Shiv Sena on Monday objected to the induction of Congress leader A R Antulay in the Union cabinet saying that it was violation of the model code of conduct. The Shrivardhan Assembly constituency, where by polls are to be held on February 16, falls under the Kulaba Lok Sabha seat represented by Antulay, Sena leader Subhash Desai said, accusing the Central Government of appeasing the minority community by inducting Antulay.
Desai told reporters after meeting State Chief Electoral Officer UPS Madan that inducting Murli Deora into the Union cabinet was also aimed at appeasing voters in Mumbai, where Naigaum Assembly bypolls are due on February' 16. "Antulay has been inducted and given the minorities welfare portfolio in order to appease minorities", Desai said.
Desai said Sena had written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner pointing out that the UPA Government had 'indulged in this decision (to induct Antulay) in order to win the minority support in Shrivardhan polls'. He said that CEC should ask the Centre to rescind its decision to include Antulay and Deora in the cabinet.
Meanwhile, Congress in the State said that the Sena was "making such wild allegations about Antulay's induction.as it was afraid of defeat'. MPCC spokesperson Husain Dalwai told reporters that "Sena's executive president Uddhav Thackeray does not understand the meaning of the word minorities. Minorities also include Christians, Sikhs and other religious groups", he said.
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