Ministers’ absence,lack of quorum mar Assembly session

He said even some Opposition members attended proceedings only when they wanted to raise an issue concerning their constituencies. “At times,members ask a question or participate in a debate,but don’t wait till the concerned minister replies to the questions.”

On Saturday,when the House had to be adjourned due to lack of quorum,around a dozen ministers had written letters seeking leave. The ministers who are not meticulous about their presence in the legislature included Excise Minister Ganesh Naik,Food and Drugs Administration Minister Manohar Naik,Water Resources (Krishna Valley) Minister Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar and Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil.

The ministers who are intermittently present in the house if required to answer questions of their departments included PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal,Industries Minister Narayan Rane,Forest Minister Patangrao Kadam,Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare and Minorities’ Welfare Minister Naseem Khan.

The House had to be adjourned several times because the minister concerned was not present to reply to questions about their departments.

Sources said it was not just a general sense of lethargy but also frustration among some ministers who feel let down by their parties. They said such ministers included Bhujbal (who had to relinquish the post of deputy chief minister for Ajit Pawar),Jayant Patil (who is not happy with his portfolio),Patangrao Kadam (unhappy with portfolio) and Narayan Rane (who was stripped of his revenue portfolio).

From The House
BJP against security cover for IPL
BJP MLC Vinod Tawde said thegovernment should not provide police security cover to IPL matches during the current season as the organisers were yet to pay for the charges slapped against them during the last season of the game. Tawde raised the issue in the legislative council through a special mention motion on Saturday and sought government’s intervention in the matter.

Policy soon on transit camp dwellers
Minister of State for Housing Sachin Ahir said the government was in the process of taking a policy decision in favour of people who were residing in transit camps for years and were considered as encroachers. He said they had been duped by brokers and officials . He said a survey was being conducted to find out their exact number. MLAs across party barriers had demanded protection for such residents.