 "Devendra Fadnavis")
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, known as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mr Clean, faces an acid test of defending “tainted” ministers in his Cabinet in the three-week monsoon session of the state legislature starting Monday. Since he took over as the CM on October 31, 2014, Fadnavis, in spite of his attempts to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diktat of “na khaoonga, na khaane doonga,” ( I won't be corrupt, and won't allow others to be) 16 minister from his Cabinet face serious charges of corruption and lapses in administration.
Some of the prominent ministers include BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde’s daughter and Minister of Rural Development Pankaja Munde alleged corruption in purchase and supply of Take Home Ration, Minister of Housing Prakash Mehta(alleged involvement in slum rehabilitation scheme), Minister of Education Vinod Tawde (fake degree and alleged scam in procurement), Minister of Energy Chandrashekhar Bawankule (procurement of sloar pumps at higher cost), Minister of Water Resources Girish Mahajan (for hiding key information on land acquisition in poll affidavit) and Minister of Public Health Deepak Sawant (alleged corruption in procurement of drugs and misuse of power in transfers and promotions).
Fadnavis has already shown the door to party veteran and former revenue minister Eknath Khadse, who, faces several charges, including his alleged telephonic conversation with underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim and misuse of power to grab land. A committee headed by a retired judge of the Mumbai High Court is currently inquiring into charges against Khadse.
Opposition parties, which are geared to use every opportunity to target government, expect stern action from Fadnavis against his Cabinet colleagues. The Opposition has already hinted that Fadnavis will be their target. This is despite the announcement by Fadnavis to conduct a probe into corruption charges against ministers.
It is also to be seen, what stand the Shiv Sena will take. Shiv Sena, which is attacking both the state and central governments despite being a partner, has been pacified during the recent Cabinet expansion by Fadnavis. However, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has hinted that his party cannot be a silent observer and will speak against lapses and anomalies in the functioning of the government.
Interestingly, opposition Congress party, which has so far failed to show any revival symptoms after the humiliating defeat in October 2014 Assembly poll, hopes to step up attack against the government with the presence of former chief minister Narayan Rane in the state council and another chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in the state Assembly. The leader of opposition in the state Assembly and former Congress minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil has organised an exhibition on a number of scams during the 20 month of the state government during the monsoon session.
Furthermore, the opposition will take on the government on its alleged mishandling of drought especially in the underdeveloped Marathwada region, problems faced by the farmers especially due to the sudden decision taken by a state undertaking to increase the prices of seeds, deteriorating law and order especially due to rising incidents of rapes on minors etc.
This apart, opposition is determined to attack government for the reimposition of local body tax (LBT) on liquor and ethanol products in the limit of 25 civic bodies.
BJP and Shiv Sena in the run up to the assembly election had targeted the Congress-NCP government on LBT and after assuming power allowed recovery of LBT from traders with an annual turnover of more than Rs 50 crore.
However, fearing the financial crunch faced by 25 municipal corporations, the government has now revived LBT on liquor and ethanol products.
Fadnavis government also faces challenge to mobilise Rs 21,000 crore to implement the 7th Pay Commission report to its 1.9 million employees and 6.5 lakh pensioners. Various employees unions have demanded immediate action in this regard.
