In a significant development, the opposition Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party combine in Maharashtra gave notice for breach of privilege against Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for 'furnishing wrong information and misleading the legislature', BJP politician Nitin Gadkari, leader of the opposition in the legislative council, announced in Mumbai today.

"The government has failed to withdraw its letter to the governor to allow five irrigation corporations to raise money from the market beyond March 31, 2003, despite an assurance to that effect in both houses of the state legislature," Gadkari told a press conference.

He said the notice had been given to Speaker Arun Gujarathi in the assembly and Chairman N S Pharande in the council under rule 274 and rule 241 of the rules of procedure of the respective houses.

The chief minister had assured the house that none of the five irrigation corporations would be allowed to raise money from the market, and that responsibility would be entrusted to a special purpose vehicle.

Shinde, who later met Governor Mohammed Fazal, said, "I had conveyed the feelings of the legislators to the governor... He had raised some queries to which government had responded."

About the privilege notice, he said, "In a democracy, the opposition has its rights."

PTI