Mumbai housing scam: More Cong seniors feel the heat

The Congress party has a problem in readily accepting Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s resignation, which he has already offered, over the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam. For, many of the prominent alternatives are reported to be tainted by it, too.

Union cabinet minister and ex-CM, Vilasrao Deshmukh, and state cabinet minister Narayan Rane are said to have given approvals at various stages for the development of the society and also recommended names for flat allotments.

Other ministers in the Congress-led government who are said to have recommended names include home minister R R Patil, irrigation minister Ajit Pawar, rural development minister Jayant Patil, forest minister Patangrao Kadam, food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh and former revenue minister Shivajirao Patil-Nilangekar.

Another Union cabinet minister, Sushilkumar Shinde, who’s also an ex-CM, is also believed to have recommended someone’s name for a flat. In the city today for a public function, he told Business Standard, “I am happy (to be) in Delhi.”

Deshmukh, who had to step down after the terrorist attack on the city in November 2008, has rejected stories of his involvement. Three of his associates were allotted flats. But Deshmukh said he didn’t recommend anyone.

Two of Rane’s associates had flats allotted. Rane has refused to comment on the scam.

Pawar, a nephew of NCP president and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said he had no involvement in the scame. However, he is believed to have recommended two names. There are similar reports on all the other minister named earlier.

A party leader currently in Delhi said the party high command cannot simply absolve Chavan at this point in time, when the perception was against the party.

“The media is repeatedly showing that the land, meant for Kargil war heroes, has been taken away by influential politicians and top defence officials,” he noted.