Politics in Maharashtra in its golden jubilee year was marred by a series of scams and controversies.
While the unceremonious exit of Ashok Chavan as chief minister following his alleged involvement in the Adarsh scam and NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s alleged role in the IPL and the multi-crore Lavasa hill city project controversies took centre stage, 52 other frauds involving land grants came as a major embarrasment to the Congress-NCP government in the state.
The tussle between the Shiv Sena and the state government over the release of Shah Rukh Khan’s film My Name is Khan and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s visit had also made the headlines.
Subsequently, the controversies over the environment clearance to the ambitious Navi Mumbai international airport and the 10,000 Mw Jaitapur nuclear power project also hogged the limelight.
The only respite to the rather scam-tainted environment was new Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan’s stated backing for a corruption-free and transparent government and bureaucracy. His announcement to form a Commission of Inquiry Act to probe the scams helped generate some hope.
Chavan, who took over on November 11, also got the credit for getting Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh, to clear both the Navi Mumbai and Jaitapur projects. Ramesh had come under severe criticism even from his own party leaders and from the NCP.
The meeting between Sharad Pawar and Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had also ruffled a few feathers in the Congress party and created further tension between the alliance partners. Pawar, however, cleared the air saying the meeting had nothing to do with politics but to convince Thackeray that he should not be opposing the participation of Australian players in IPL matches. The Shiv Sena had earlier taken a firm stand in this regard following attacks on Indians in Australia.
Pawar baiters were united against him for his alleged involvement in the IPL-City Corporation scam. They had also attacked Pawar and civil aviation minister Praful Patel for his alleged connection in the IPL controversy.
However, neither the Prime Minister nor the Congress high command conceded to the anti-Pawar campaign and the controversy subsided.
Pawar was also attacked over the development of the Lavasa hill project. However, he defended his decision to rope in Hindustan Construction Company chief Ajit Gulabchand to develop Lavasa hill city because not a single hill station was developed in Maharashtra after the British Raj. The matter is now in court.
The Adarsh scam had put the Congress on the backfoot. Ashok Chavan, who had allegedly used his influence to get flats for his relatives in the Adarsh society – meant for widows of the Kargil war heroes – was isolated his own party when the controversy erupted.
Ultimately, the party high command appointed a two-member team to inquire into the scam before formally accepting the resignation of Chavan. The party had waited for US President Barack Obama to complete his India visit before making a move.
Since Prithviraj Chavan took over as the chief minister of the state, the Congress party seemed to have gained some of its lost ground — his resolve for transparent administration and good governance helped improve the party’s image, especially in the middle and working class. Residents believe Chavan’s administration would help break the nexus between the government, builders and contractors and middlemen.
Alliance partner NCP, too, overhauled the party’s image by replacing deputy chief minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal by Pawar’s nephew and dynamic Maratha leader, Ajit Pawar.
Bhujbal, despite his hold over politically crucial OBC voters, had to be satisfied with a ministerial berth because a large number of legislators had openly revolted against him in favour of Ajit Pawar.
Immediately after taking office, Ajit Pawar, known for quick decision making, announced that bureaucrats and officials involved in the Adarsh scam would not be spared. Pawar, who has already expressed his disappointment over NCP’s decision not to take claim to the chief minister’s chair from the Congress party despite winning more seats in the 2004 elections, is now concentrating on strengthening his party base.
The rift between the Shiv Sena and BJP surfaced on several occasions during the year. An embattled Sena, has not left a single opportunity to ridicule its alliance partner of over two decades.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackeray, estranged nephew of Sena chief Bal Thackeray, has also been engaged in a verbal duel with his uncle and cousin to consolidate his party. Both Sena executive president Uddhav and the MNS chief have opposed attempts by old Shiv Sainiks to bring the two parties together to avoid division of Marathi votes.
Shiv Sena and BJP have not hidden their intent to break the alliance due to differences. However, due to political compulsions they are living together but both are eyeing the crucial elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in 2012.
