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Sena-BJP accepts defeat,
BJP's Munde fears arrest

Walvi had on June 6 told mediapersons that he had withdrawn support to the Democratic Front government in Maharashtra. At that time, he was accompanied by leader of the Opposition Narayan Rane and other Shiv Sena and BJP leaders.

However, on June 12, Walvi presented himself before assembly Speaker Arun Gujarathi and claimed that he had been abducted by the Shiv Sena-BJP combine and forced to withdraw support to the DF government.

Seeking protection from the speaker, he said he would vote for the DF alliance (comprising the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and some smaller parties) during the trust vote on Thursday.

Following this, Chief Minister Vilas Deshmukh had said that the police would investigate Walvi's allegations once he filed a complaint.

Minutes after the trust motion was passed, a visibly disturbed Munde claimed that a Deputy Commissioner of Police had telephoned him at about 0900 hours IST 'warning that I will be arrested based on the complaint lodged by Congress MLA Padmakar Walvi'.

In case of his arrest, he would not seek bail, he told reporters, adding that the attack on Narayan Rane's residence by NCP activists was 'highly deplorable'.

Asked about the possible arrest of Rane and Munde, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who also holds the home portfolio, said, "Police will take appropriate action as per the law."

Earlier, accepting with humility its defeat in the trust vote, the Shiv Sena-BJP combine alleged that Speaker Arun Gujarathi's 'partisan' ruling to disqualify seven rebel Democratic Front MLAs 'ensured' the victory of the ruling coalition.

The DF won the trust motion by a margin of 10 votes.

BJP leader Gopinath Munde termed as 'unfortunate' the Speaker's decision not to allow a debate on the trust vote.

Complete Coverage of the Crisis in Maharashtra

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