Maharashtra Assembly winter session to be a stormy affair

Deteriorating finances and law and order, rising farmers suicides and pulses scam in focus

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be targeted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s ruling partner in the state, the Shiv Sena, and the Opposition parties during the winter session of the state legislature beginning on Monday.

Last week, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had asked party ministers to strongly take up issues relating to the rising number of farmers suicides in the state, lack of adequate relief provided to drought-hit areas, and the deteriorating law and order situation.

Fadnavis holds the home portfolio. Some of the BJP's allies — Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Rashtriya Samaj Party, Republican Party of India and Shivsangram — are also miffed at the delay in Cabinet expansion.

Besides, some disgruntled elements within the BJP, too, have decided to use the opportunity to air their views on the lack of clearance of various development works in their respective constituencies. A section of the BJP is unhappy with dilly-dallying over the key appointments in the government-run undertakings.

The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have already targeted the BJP-led government on a number of issues — critical financial situation, the alleged multi-crore pulses scam, kidney racket, rising crimes especially in Nagpur and other parts and burgeoning crisis due to drought.

They have also decided to take on the government on its claims over the flow of investments. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Radhakrisha Vikhe Patil, and the leader of opposition in the state council, Dhananjay Munde, said the government would not be spared in the winter session.

The government has been under attack for its failure to keep the prices of pulses, especially of tur dal under control. A consumer organisation, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, has demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) saying it’s a Rs 4,300-crore scam.

The NCP was at the forefront to flag off the increasing tur dal prices and the half-hearted measures taken by the government to address the issue.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat, who has been cornered by the ruling and Opposition parties, said the government was prepared to counter all charges in the legislature.

The Opposition will also focus on the poor state of finances as they fear the state revenue deficit, estimated at Rs 3,757 crore, will soar to Rs 15,000 crore by the end of the current financial year.

The Congress and the NCP blame the government for fulfilling their poll promises such as waiving toll and withdrawing local body tax without paying due attention on raising revenue mobilisation.

Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar conceded it was a challenge but said the government was taking a slew of measures including austerity and recovery of long-pending dues to increase revenue.