MLA asks BJP workers not to misuse ID cards at toll booths

Maharashtra BJP MLA Suresh Halvankar has asked the party workers from his constituency to refrain from using the identity cards issued to them to seek concessions at toll plazas.

Halvankar, the MLA from Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district, told PTI that all booth-level representatives in his constituency were issued identity cards so that they could reach out to people and inform them about various government schemes.

Several such booth-level meetings were being organised across Maharashtra and one such meeting was held in Miraj two days back, he said.

"While addressing the meeting there, I said some party workers, who have been issued such identity cards, are using them at the toll plazas to get toll fee concession, despite knowing the card is not meant for that purpose," he said.

He also clarified that the cards issued to the booth- level from his constituency have his image but not of state Public Works Department Minister Chandrakant Patil.

"Knowing that Chandrakant Dada Patil is the PWD minister and since the cards have my photo, the toll plaza employees sometimes allow the party workers, who flash these ID cards, to go without charging them any fee," he said.

Halvankar said he wanted to convey to the party workers to refrain from taking any undue advantage of these ID cards.

"It is a card which gives the party workers an identity when they go to the public or approach government offices for people's work," he added.