Nagpur:
Signalling a stormy start to the winter session of the Maharashtra assembly, the opposition took out a silent black flag procession to the legislature in Nagpur this morning against the re-induction of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar as the deputy chief minister.
Legislators from all opposition parties - Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) - carried placards and banners against Pawar's re-induction.
Mr Pawar, who quit his post September 25 for being allegedly involved in Rs.70,000 crore irrigation department scam, rejoined the cabinet last week, raising the opposition's heckles.
The opposition has alleged that Mr Pawar's swearing-in was "unconstitutional" and has demanded a special investigating team to probe the alleged scam.
The opposition has also questioned the 'White Paper' on the irrigation department and the 'clean chit' given to Mr Pawar that enabled his return to the ministry and came out with a 'Black Paper' to counter the government's claim.
Opposition leaders Eknath Khadse and Vinod Tawde, both from the BJP, have termed the report a "black paper" and threatened to disrupt the house.
The opposition also plans to target several ministers of the ruling Congress-NCP coalition for their alleged involvement in various scams and irregularities.