Fadnavis is losing Maharashtra government to scams and ego wars

The May issue of Maharashtra government’s official publication, Lok Rajya, carries an article on revenue minister Eknath Khadse, calling him the people’s man. A week after the issue, Khadse finds himself embroiled in a controversy after his alleged aide Gajanan Patil was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 30 crore from a land developer in lieu of transferring a piece of land in his name.

Khadse has washed off his hands from the episode saying he has not appointed Patil as his assistant.

Over the past six months, one after another minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Fadnavis’ colleagues are facing charges of corruption, nepotism, high-handedness and apathy towards the common people. Only last month, health minister Deepak Sawant was in the dock after his department purchased medicines worth Rs 280 crore when there was no demand for them. Earlier, women and child development minister Pankaja Munde, education minister Vinod Tawde and food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat attracted the opposition’s ire for irregularities in purchasing in their concerned departments.

Political observers believe Fadnavis’ “dislike” of some of his senior colleagues is leading towards a tussle between the CM’s office and the ministers. Seniors in BJP, such as Khadse, Tawde, Bapat and finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, had hoped Fadnavis would consult them before taking any major decision.

Fadnavis seeks suggestions from bureaucrats and several experts on policy matters, but keeps his colleagues out of the consultations. It has created a virtual rift in the government as a feeling of being left out is growing among the ministers. As a result, they do not stand as a team.

A senior minister says Fadnavis wants to control every department through the bureaucracy. Environment minister Ramdas Kadam of Shiv Sena was shocked when his personal secretary informed him that secretary to the department, Malini Shankar, had left for a foreign tour after getting consent from the CM’s office. Technically, she should have sought permission from Kadam - her immediate boss. The minister was relieved when she was recently transferred out of his department.

Another minister, Ravindra Waikar, also from Shiv Sena, has so far written 17 letters to Fadnavis seeking an appointment to discuss the state’s housing policy. Fadnavis did not even acknowledge the letters.

Fadnavis says all is well in his government and the “rift” is nothing but a media fantasy. In Patil’s case, he has taken a tough stand, saying the ACB will do its work without any interference. He has publicly said that the culprits in financial scams are punished, but the money they siphon off is not recovered. Now, he will have to ensure the culprit is not let off in this case.