CM: Decision on tainted ministers hinges on morality

While speculation abounds that controversial minister Dhananjay Munde of the NCP will hand in his resignation, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis declared at a press conference on Sunday that the government would take a decision on sacking the minister if it was felt that the ethics of the government were being affected by the case.

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI:

Fadnavis also clarified that the decision on the resignation of another NCP leader, agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, would be based on the appellate court decision.

It was a social media post by Karuna Munde, Dhananjay Munde's estranged first wife, that gave rise to the conjecture about Munde resigning. In her post, Karuna said that Munde would resign on March 3, the first day of the budget session. "According to my sources, he submitted his resignation two days ago to party chief Ajit Pawar," she told the media. "The resignation was asked for by Ajit Pawar despite Munde's unwillingness."