The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Vasant Chavan today said that his party had issued a whip asking all its elected representatives to remain present in Mumbai on July 15 when India's presidential elections are scheduled.
"We had decided to support the candidature of professor A P J Abul Kalam within a couple of days of his name being proposed by the central government," he said.
Commenting on Maharashtra-specific issues, Chavan said his party would oppose the Democratic Front government (of which it is a constituent) on the mandatory rule on wearing helmets by two-wheeler drivers and the hike in school fees.
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"The NCP has on several occasions raised objections to the decisions taken by the state government even earlier. The compulsory use of helmets for two-wheeler drivers is not acceptable to us. A survey conducted by us revealed that making this rule mandatory would adversely affect the middle class population in the state and lead to a law and order problem," Chavan said.
He also said that his party in its consultations with the government had sought a rethink on the hike in school fees on the basis of the income tax filed by parents sought to be brought into force by the government.
"We feel that the Rs 15,000 per annum limit set for the lowest fee chargeable should be raised to Rs 50,000 as even a small farmer in the state earns more than this. Similarly, while for every Rs 1 lakh and above this limit the government has prescribed a Rs 100 increase in the school fees, we feel this should be brought down to Rs 50," he said.