Opposition mulls on boycott strategy as govt set to bring resolution on border dispute | Nagpur News

March 30, 2026 Headlinesnews

3 min readNagpurDec 26, 2022 02:25 AM IST

EVEN AS the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) boycotted proceedings of the state assembly, it may find it difficult to continue with the same in the second week of the Winter Session of the state legislature as the ruling side will be bringing a resolution on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute.

Since Thursday afternoon following the suspension of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state president and senior MLA Jayant Patil, MVA MLAs boycotted proceedings of the house and claimed that the ruling side does not allow the opposition to present its side and is dictatorial in its attitude.

On Friday, the MVA held its meeting on the staircase of the legislative building and even offered condolences to the deceased MLA Mukta Tilak from the staircase but did not enter the House.

Sources within the MVA have hinted discontent against the leader of the Opposition Ajit Pawar for going soft on the ruling Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis government. “At a time when (Jayant) Patil did not extend an apology for his remarks against the Speaker, what was the need for (Ajit) Pawar to apologise in the house?” asked a Congress MLA. NCP chief Sharad Pawar too had called Ajit Pawar on Friday morning asking how did the Opposition allow the suspension of Patil.

The opposition MLAs have been pressurising the leadership to boycott House proceedings and conduct a dummy house on the staircase as a mark of protest for not letting opposition MLAs speak in the House by the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the ruling side is likely to present a resolution on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue extending solidarity to the people of border areas, who are demanding to be a part of Maharashtra, sources said. It may also table the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act, 2022.

However, the ruling side hinted that the resolution of the border dispute will be presented this week. “Opposition’s absence from the House will be highlighted by the ruling side, especially at a time when the MVA has been protesting aggressively against the Karnataka Chief Minister’s stand on the border issue and demanding to bring the resolution. One of the parties in the MVA joining the proceedings and others boycotting would mean a split in the opposition,” said an NCP MLA.

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Apart from maintaining unity within the MVA, Ajit Pawar is tasked with putting up an aggressive face in the second week to calm the critics within.

Sources hinted that the Winter Session is likely to wrap up by December 28, instead of 30, as decided earlier. However, officials are yet to confirm the same.

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra’s hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise

Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.

Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the ‘hinterlands’).

Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:

State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).

Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).

Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC’s OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.

Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness

Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.

Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.

Alok Deshpande’s rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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