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Sena continues to oppose Krishna's appointment

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, DEC. 2. The Shiv Sena continues to oppose the appointment of S.M. Krishna as Maharashtra Governor because of the "pro-Karnataka stand" he adopted on border and water disputes with Maharashtra, particularly when he was the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

But its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has refused to join the protest and welcomed Mr. Krishna, scheduled to be sworn in on December 6. The BJP State president, Nitin Gadkari, expressed the hope that the new Governor would make positive contributions in resolving the disputes in the interests of Maharashtra.

The Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, said that as per the Constitution, the Governor has to act according to the advice of the Council of Ministers and there was no change in the State's stand on the border dispute. Maharashtra has staked a claim on Marathi-speaking areas of Belgam, Karwar, Nipani, Bhalki and Bidar now in Karnataka. The State has moved the Supreme Court in the matter.

But Mr. Deshmukh faced protests from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a partner in his coalition Government. The NCP leaders said they had been not taken into confidence before the appointment of Mr. Krishna. The party State president, Arun Gujarathi, said Mr. Krishna would have to change his views and think of the interests of Maharashtra. The NCP did not want the Shiv Sena to be seen as the only protestor in the sensitive matter. The Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, has urged the President to intervene and another MP, Eknath Thakur, has urged the Mumbai High Court Chief Justice not to administer the oath of office to Mr. Krishna. The party mouthpiece, Saamna, which attacked the appointment, has accused the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, of not taking care of Maharashtra's interests because his own roots are in Karnataka.

But other leaders of the Shiv Sena, including the Leader of the Opposition, Narayan Rane, and former Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, have tried to moderate the party stand stating that Mr. Krishna will have to take into account the interests of the State.

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Sena continues to oppose Krishna's appointment

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