‘Uddhav threatened me to appoint MLCs’

Mumbai: Days after stepping down from position of Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, on Monday, spilled the beans over his stand-off with MahaVikas Aghadi government over the appointment of MLCs in the state. Koshyari claimed that Uddhav tried to muscle him and used threat as a tactic to get the Governor to work in a certain way.

Notably, Koshyari did not not sign the appointment letter until he left office. “A threat was given to appoint 12 MLAs within fifteen days or even earlier. A Governor is not a rubber stamp of a state. Even if he had written a five-line letter (in a better tone and manner), I would have agreed to their demand. I did not appoint 12 MLAs because I was threatened in a letter,” the former Maha-Governor said, further adding, “The delegation of Mahavikas Aghadi kept coming. I told them to look at the five-page letter. The case is currently in the Supreme Court. Someday, after that letter comes out, the truth will come out to everyone.”

Moreover, speaking about the early morning swearing-in of the Fadnavis government when BJP entered coalition with NCP, Koshyari said, “If Ajit Pawar comes to me with a letter signed by MLAs and says that we want to participate in the government, then what should I do? He also said that they (NCP legislators) will support Devendra Fadnavis. What’s wrong with that?” he asked.

“Both Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had said they have majority and want to form a government. I invited them to the oath ceremony. After that, they could not prove majority,” added Koshyari.

Meanwhile, Koshyari thanked PM Narendra Modi for the gubernatorial position and stressed that people of Maharashtra gave him immense love. “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving me the post of Governor of Maharashtra. I also thank the people of Maharashtra because they have given me so much love. The work I do is for the public interest,” he said.

Speaking over the issue raked over his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji and other historical figures, Koshyari said, “Debate would have happened even if nothing had been said. I did not counter any argument. I know my limits. I never hesitated to apologize.”