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NCP ministers', MLAs' resignations to be rejected: Bhujbal

He said this at the closing ceremony of the MAMI international film Festival in Mumbai.

Bhujbal, considered a key leader of the NCP, which is a major constituent of the Democratic Front, said "Our party colleagues from that region have certain complaints and these will be looked into."

Earlier in the day, taking exception to the Maharashtra government's 'failure' to provide aid to cotton, orange, and dhaan (grain) producers of Vidarbha, the group of ministers, MLAs, and office-bearers of the NCP, the second largest constituent of the ruling Democratic Front, had tendered their resignations to the high command.

Admitting that he had received the resignations along with a memorandum from Vidarbha NCP leaders, the state's party chief, Baban Pachpute, said, "We sympathise with the sentiments expressed by them, but have asked them to wait and not press the resignations."

The NCP has sought an additional Rs 400 per quintal for cotton over the guarantee price, Pachpute said. "We have apprised Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal of the situation. A decision in this regard will be taken in a day or two."

Pachpute said the government had compensated the orange producers of Vidarbha, who suffered losses due to unfavourable climatic conditions.

The resignations of the NCP leaders have come at a time when the opposition Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party have launched separate state-wide demonstrations highlighting the plight of cotton, sugarcane and grain cultivators.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Deshmukh presided over a special meeting on Wednesday, at which legislators of the ruling front sought higher prices to cotton and grain growers.

The resignations came from ministers Anil Deshmukh, Rajendra Shingne and Subhash Thakre, legislators Ramesh Bang and Avinash Naik, and some party office-bearers.

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