Day before Maharashtra Assembly session, Opposition slams govt over ‘selective development’

Ajit Pawar, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, said the present government should be termed a 'stay government' for all the stays it has imposed on developmental projects across Maharashtra.

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Ajit Pawar addresses the media, at NCP office in Mumbai, July 25, 2022. (PTI Photo)

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With a day to go for the Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature, the Opposition is set to corner the Shinde-Fadnavis government on the issue of pushing development only in selective regions of the state.

While Opposition parties in the state continue to raise the demand for the resignation of Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and target the government for losing large industrial projects to Gujarat, they also plan to corner the ruling side by highlighting the prominence given to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde “at the expense of the rest of the state”.

Accusing the state government of causing “regional imbalance in developmental works”, Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, Ajit Pawar, said Sunday, “While the government is raising loan worth Rs 60,000 crore for infrastructure works in MMR, it has given stay for developmental projects in rest of the state.” He was speaking to reporters on the eve of the Winter Session of the Maharashtra legislature, which will begin on December 19, Monday. “This government has a policy of availing loan for and ensuring the development of selected regions only, ” he said.

Taunting how the government of Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was known as ‘khoka sarkar (a government formed after accepting boxes full of money)’, Pawar said it should also be termed a ‘stay government’ for all the stays it has imposed on developmental projects across the state. “The MVA government gave more funds to DPDCs (district planning and development committees), but this government issued stays. While it focuses on MMR, attention should also be given to other regions,” he said. The new government of Shinde-Fadnavis had stayed projects approved under the DPDC, work orders for which were issued in the ongoing fiscal.

Shinde hails from Thane, neighbouring Mumbai, and his area of influence lies within the MMR and the municipal corporations included therein, such as Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira Road-Bhayander, Vasai-virar, Ulhasnagar and Panvel.

Also read | Uddhav Thackeray to attend Maharashtra winter session: Opposition leader Ajit Pawar

Reigniting the debate of backlogs in the Vidarbha region, Pawar said the most stays issued by the new government were for projects in Vidarbha. “We, on the contrary, did not stop any funds allocated for Vidarbha or Marathwada. Our priority is to focus on issues concerning these regions and we will ensure that they are raised in this session, ” he said.

Earlier in the day, Opposition parties including the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena along with other smaller parties wrote to Shinde announcing boycott of the tea party it had called on the eve of the Winter Session.

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In a letter to Shinde, the Opposition labelled the government as inactive when the projects were leaving Maharashtra, leading to disappointment among youths over losing jobs. It also raised the issue of lack of aid from the government to areas affected by heavy rainfall. Recalling the continued statements by ministers, BJP leaders and the governor about Maharashtra’s icons such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the Opposition accused the ruling party of failing to take any action against them.

It also accused the state government of failing to safeguard the interests of Maharashtra in a border dispute with Karnataka and said that while the Karnataka Chief Minister was making provocative statements, Maharashtra’s CM and DCM chose to stay quiet.

“The government has not only failed to protect the interests of its people, but it has even failed to safeguard the incoming development, ” Pawar alleged.

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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