MUMBAI/PUNE: After the Elgar Parishad row, a fresh rift has opened up in the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra over the National Population Register (NPR) updation, which is set to start in the state from May 1.

While Congress and NCP are opposed to NPR and have demanded a joint meeting of all the coalition partners to determine the government’s stand, Shiv Sena has said NPR is in the national interest. CM Uddhav Thackeray earlier this week consented to handing over the Elgar probe to the NIA despite NCP’s objections.

The Congress Working Committee had in January passed a resolution saying updation of NPR must be stopped. NPR is a list of “usual residents” of the country but Congress has opposed NPR “in its present form.” “We are against CAA, NCR and NPR. MVA constituents will meet soon and decide the future course of action,” State Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat told TOI.

Home minister Anil Deshmukh of NCP, who complained days ago that the CM had “overruled him” on handing over the Elgar probe to NIA, told TOI the three parties need to have a meeting soon to discuss implementation of NPR. “The three parties will have to discuss soon and take a final decision as only after the meeting will a final order be issued,” he said.

However, Harshal Pradhan, chief media advisor to CM Thackeray and Sena, said, “NPR and NRC are two different subjects. NPR is related to the census and it is the Centre’s prerogative to implement it.” NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “The entire exercise has created panic among the common people. It appears to be an exercise for harassing people.”

Thorat said Congress will study the information sought by the Union home affairs ministry for NPR. “We have been told uncalled-for information has been sought,” he said.



In Video: Rift in Maha govt widens over NPR rollout in state