Mumbai, Jul 24 (Midday News): The Monsoon session has not even started, and the Opposition is already presenting a divided front. NCP boycotted the traditional joint meeting of opposition parties on the eve of the new session after a row with the over a resolution to celebrate senior political leaders.

While the NCP wanted to discuss honouring their chief, Sharad Pawar, and his work over the last 50 years, the Congress demanded that former prime minister, the late Indira Gandhi be placed ahead of Pawar as she was senior to him. When the government agreed, the NCP blamed it on the Congress.

While the Congress and other Opposition parties continued with their meeting and interacted with media persons, the NCP held its own meeting and also briefed the press.

Boycott CM's tea party
The only thing all parties had a united stand on was boycotting the Chief Minister's customary tea party on the eve of the Monsoon session. Good sense prevailed in both camps when two senior leaders, Narayan Rane (Congress) and Sunil Tatkare (state NCP chief), spoke over the phone and agreed on the boycott. But this unity, too, was marred when the two Opposition branches sent separate letters to inform CM Devendra Fadnavis of the decision to snub his party.

CM says
CM Fadnavis criticised the fracture in the Opposition and said that even the BJP and the Shiv Sena did not agree on certain issues when they were in Opposition. "And yet, we never put that difference of opinion on display. We always held joint meetings and press briefings ahead of each session," he said.

"They held two separate meetings and sent me two letters telling me about the boycott. In fact, they don't have any issues to raise," added the CM after his tea party.

Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader said that efforts were on to get the NCP onboard again. "We will definitely convince them and get attacking on the government from Monday," said the former minister.

Other than Gandhi and Pawar, the resolution to celebrate leaders will also include BJP ideologues such as Dindayal Upadhyay and Nanaji Deshmukh, and senior-most sitting MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh. Sources said issues like the farm loan waiver, SRA scams, tur dal purchase fiasco, delay in Mumbai University exam results and the recent custodial death in Byculla prison, will be among the main issues discussed.