Wednesday, June 5, 2002 (Mumbai):


The political crisis in Maharashtra deepened today with one more NCP
MLA withdrawing support to the Congress-NCP led coalition government.

NCP MLA Shirish Kotwal from Chandwad assembly segment met Governor Dr
P C Alexander this morning to submit his letter of withdrawal.

There are also reports that more NCP MLAs will opt out of the
coalition. However one of the four MLAs who quit yesterday, Vinay
Kore returned to the NCP today.

Crucial meet

Meanwhile Chief Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh today held a meeting to
keep his flock together. He has been given ten days to prove his
majority in the state assembly.

The DF government was reduced to a minority by spate of withdrawals
starting with Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) on Sunday and
yesterday four NCP MLAs and one independent had withdrawn support.

NDTV