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Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday made it clear that while he was prepared to put his ‘Mr Clean’ image at stake, he would never bend rules for political survival.
Chavan said his priority as state chief minister heading the coalition government, had been and would continue to be clearing files and works pertaining to the official policy, aam admi and public good and not relating to personal benefits.
Chavan also dropped a strong hint that he was prepared to take on alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and its boss, Sharad Pawar, on this issue, but would never compromise.
The trigger for Chavan’s statement was Pawar's scathing attack against him on Tuesday for policy paralysis and delays in taking decisions and clearing files. Pawar went a step further, calling Chavan “paralysed.”
Chavan downplayed Pawar's outburst, saying he had to run the coalition government. But he declared he would clarify his stand at the proper place and time. Chavan is aware that he cannot afford to further tease Pawar or the NCP in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections. However, he also indicated that the NCP should not take Congress party for a ride. The Congress is going to contest the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Maharashtra under his leadership.
Congress and NCP are running the Democratic Front government in Maharashtra since 1999 and have, in principle, expressed plans to continue their alliance during the general elections.
Chavan gave a list of some projects cleared within no time, considering the larger public interest. These included infrastructure projects in Mumbai and the rest of the state, revision in the floor space index and premium policy in Mumbai by amending the development control rules which led to revenue mobilisation of Rs 2,000 crore annually for the state. He argued that works of public good are cleared at the lower level, but those requiring special concessions come to his level. In such cases, the chief minister admitted that it takes time as decisions are to be taken quite carefully by adhering to rules and norms. He reiterated that he was against any shortcuts and also against bending rules.
Pawar and his party are believed to have been displeased with a number of pending files relating to Mumbai's realty sector, the Lavasa project, appointment of members on the special authority for Lavasa, establishment of the election commission for the cooperation sector, various concessions withdrawn for the industry especially for the auto sector.
Pawar and NCP are also dissatisfied over delays in deciding the fate of the Rs 5,000 crore Worli-Haji Ali sea link project and a couple of projects under the jurisdiction of NCP-led ministries. Further, the NCP is hurt over delays in the reconstitution of the board of directors of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, dissolved in May 2011.
