Congress claims 'conflict of interest' against Maharashtra ministers

The Congress on Tuesday sharpened its attack on the Maharashtra government, alleging existence of a few cases of "Maha conflict of interest" as a number of ministers are holding key positions in construction and other private companies.

"Maharashtra health minister (Deepak Sawant) is also director of an Eye Hospital. If this isn't conflict of Interest, then what is it?" Congress' official twitter handler INC India said in a tweet about about the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government.

It cited similar instances of other ministers, like Minister of State for Housing Ravindra Waikar, PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil, Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde, Minister of State for Industries Pravin Patil and Minister of State for Finance Deepak Kesarkar.

The Congress said in another tweet: "Maha conflict of Interest in @Dev_Fadnavis' Government. Shouldn't these Ministers step down?"

The Congress alleged that while Pankaja Munde is on the board of at least five companies, Minister for Housing Waikar is on the board of a construction firm.

Similary, junior minister Pravin Patil is on the board of Pravin Builders and Developers, the Congress alleged.

While Deepak Sawant is a legislator from the Shiv Sena, Pankaja Munde is the BJP legislator from Parli.

In another tweet, the party slammed the Maharashtra government for water crisis in parts of the state. "The anti-people face of the BJP stands exposed. Shows no compassion for a parched population," it said.