Raj Thackeray strikes for Chavan on Mumbai scam

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today received support from an unexpected quarter, when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray said the Adarsh Cooperative Housing scam was a conspiracy to tarnish Chavan.

Thackeray also took strong objection to the “trial by media”, saying the CM was being indicted for a crime yet to be proven. He said the media should wait till the inquiry into the scam is over and then express opinion. “If Chavan is found guilty after the inquiry (constituted by the Congress party) then action should be taken against him but not now,” he said.

He spoke after meeting the newly elected 27 MNS members in the recently held elections to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC).

This comes a day after Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said there was nothing wrong in allocating flats if the land belonged to the state government. The problem would only be if this was not so.

The MNS chief’s move has even puzzled the ruling Congress party members, who have so far steered clear from supporting Chavan on the scam. The CM has been criticised for allegedly using his position to allot flats to five of his relatives in the housing society, meant for Kargil heroes and their kin.

Party leaders are awaiting the outcome of the two-member inquiry committee appointed by the high command on the issue.

Political analysts believe supporting Chavan may be Raj’s political strategy after the KDMC poll outcome. “Raj, who contested in 107 seats, has won 27. The Congress and NCP have jointly bagged 29 seats and need the support of at least four independents. By coming out in support of the CM, Raj may have dropped a hint that his party could support the Congress-NCP from outside, to keep the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance at bay.”