Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar today attended a tea party in Mumbai ahead of the Monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin in Mumbai tomorrow and continue till 4 August. Addressing media persons this evening, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticised the opposition for boycotting the tea party. He said that more than 210 MLAs are with the current government. He added that it is the duty of the opposition to question the government if it is doing something wrong.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Maharashtra’s top position in terms of Foreign Direct Investment is because of the hard work done by the Government in the last one year. He said the strength of his government has increased. He added that they are going to misuse the power and are still going to address all the issues related to the welfare of the people that will be raised by the opposition.

The opposition Congress and Uddhav Thackeray led Shivsena boycotted the high tea party organised by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Addressing a joint press conference, leader of opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, said that despite the reduced strength, the experience and seniority of the remaining MLAs will be enough to corner the state government on various issues. Danve hit out at the Eknath Shinde led Government stating that the government is busy in breaking parties and has no time to pay heed to farmer suicides. He further cornered the government over the issue of inflation. He added that the law-and-order situation in the state has deteriorated.

Earlier, the Opposition parties held a joint meeting to discuss the strategy for the Monsoon Session and issues to be raised against the ruling side. Since Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs led by Ajit Pawar joined the ruling dispensation, Maharashtra government now stands with a majority of 207 MLAs in the 288-member Legislative Assembly. The Opposition has just 81 MLAs.