NEW DELHI: In a regrettable development that does not spell well for Indian federalism, three chief ministers in a row have been humiliated by BJP workers while sharing a stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a result Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has decided not to attend further events with the PM in the state.

The first to be jeered was Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at Kaithal where he shared the dais with the Prime Minister and was not allowed to complete his speech in peace by the BJP supporters. Flustered, he raced through the speech.

This was followed more recently at a function in Solapur where the Congress chief minister Chavan had to stop his speech mid way when BJP supporters started chanting PM Modi’s name. The Prime Minister reportedly did not stop them, according to state Congress leaders. Chavan has now decided not to accompany PM Modi to Nagpur, a move endorsed and supported by the Congress central leadership. Chavan has now decided not to accompany PM Modi to Nagpur, a move endorsed and supported by the Congress central leadership as well.

"Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee is fully supportive of Chavan's decision to skip the Nagpur Metro event with the PM today, considering the manner in which chief ministers are treated in PM's events," MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said. "The post of CM of Maharashtra is a matter of pride, no matter to which party he belongs. Any behaviour which hurts his pride is an insult of Maharashtra," he added.

"I have decided not to attend the Prime Minister's function because of the incidents that took place in recent days. As per protocol, a representative of the state government will be present at the function," Chavan told the media.

In Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Multi Morcha leader Hemant Soren was jeered by the audience at a function in Ranchi in the presence of the Prime Minister. Here the PM tried to restrain the crowd, but after a short span of silence, BJP supporters started shouting his name and heckling Soren while he was speaking. However, he insisted on completing his speech.

He has become the third chief minister to be insulted by BJP supporters. Almost as if expecting this JMM central secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya had told reporters earlier that the BJP would regret it if the Haryana incident had a Jharkhand repeat. However, this is exactly what happened.

Modi was in Ranchi on Thursday to launch as well as lay the foundation stones for six different projects. He was accompanied by central ministers ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal and Sudarshan Bhagat.