Transparent administration base for civic poll alliance: CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said transparent administration in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be the base for alliance with Shiv Sena for the next month's civic election.
"More than seat sharing, our agenda should be transparent administration in the civic body. Mumbai's civic body should not be seen as a milking cow and fund raiser for political parties," he said at an interactive session in suburban Vile Parle.
Responding to questions, the chief minister said he does not want to point fingers at the present civic administration but the loopholes need to be plugged.
"Irregularities have been found in road contract scam, garbage proposals, recruitment process. People's money should be used judiciously," he said.

"BJP and Shiv Sena are two different political entities and Hindutva is the ideology which binds us. Our alliance was for a larger goal and Hindutva is one of them," said the Chief Minister.
"Transparent administration in BMC will be the base for alliance with Shiv Sena for the civic election," he said.

Instead of discussing the number of seats to be contested, alliance talks should focus on ensuring transparent civic administration, Fadnavis added.
"Any political party will wish to have a government of its own. Issue of alliance comes when you have to respect the people's mandate," he said.

Fadnavis downplayed the constant friction between the two allies. "Small issues are blown out of proportion," he said.
About his singing abilities, Fadnavis said he remembers all songs but not in 'sur' and 'taal'.
Against the backdrop of the upcoming elections, "Hum honge kamyab is the song I remember now," he said.
Referring to demonetisation, Fadnavis said his
government's intervention had helped farmers tide over the crisis.
The issue of good price for agriculture produce is not a fallout of demonetisation, he said
"Due to electronic payment system now, farmers can make complaint against traders paying less than minimum support price. Earlier, traders would go scot-free since no record was available due to cash payments," he said.

Kharif and Rabi yield has been good and the agriculture produce has been sold, he said.
Fadnavis said 14 per cent increase has been registered in VAT since November 8 decision of demonetisation. There is an increase in excise but stamp duty collection has reduced, he said.
On the issue of Maratha morchas (march), Fadnavis said the discipline with which the silent morchas were taken out was an example of how a protest should be carried out.
To a question on whether such morchas would have been organised had he not been the chief minister, Fadnavis said he looks at it considering that he has got an opportunity to solve issues of public interest.

To a query on the status of probe into the irrigation scam, Fadnavis said 8 FIRs, four charge sheets have been filed and 4 cases of disproportionate assets are being probed. "We are not targetting individuals out of political vendetta. Action will be based on evidence," said the Chief Minister.