Gholap drops another staff from ministry

NASHIK, Oct 19: Controversial Maharashtra Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap has sacked his personal assistant PA Balasaheb Warung...

NASHIK, Oct 19: Controversial Maharashtra Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap has sacked his personal assistant PA Balasaheb Warungase for failing to maintain proper liasion between the minister and his constituency, Devlali.

Warungase8217;s ouster follows sacking of another PA, Anil Namdeo Pagare by Gholap on September 1. Pagare was subsequently arrested on October 7 in connection with a multi-crore scandal in the ministry.

Gholap, last night told the Press that he had decided to sack Warungase following numerous complaints from his constituency. He added that Warungase had been his PA since the former became an MLA in 1990. Gholap pointed out that Warungase had been asked to maintain a link between him and the electorate to take up welfare works, but had failed to do so.

During his week-long tour of the constituency from October 2 to 9, there were complaints from people that Warungase was arrogant and nonchalant towards them.

Warungase8217;s sacking has raised eyebrows in political circles, withspeculations of his being involved in some scandal like Pagare. The minister8217;s gesture is seen as a last ditch effort to save his skin as he has been accused of amassing wealth through dubious means by veteran social worker Anna Hazare.

Gholap had sued Hazare for defamation and the court had sentenced the Gandhian social worker for three months8217; imprisonment. The Manohar Joshi government had intervened in the case, waiving the prison term of Hazare.

Subsequently, Gholap8217;s party rival and former MP from Nashik, Rajabhau Godse, had publicly demanded the former8217;s ouster for maligning the image of the Shiv Sena. Godse had accused Gholap of using the party for personal prosperity and ignoring party workers and the people.

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The Bhrastachar Virodhi Jan Andolan founded by Hazare had organised a morcha in Nashik on October 2 Gandhi Jayanti Day against Gholap. It was led by Baba Adhav, Prof GP Pradhan and Pushpa Bhave, demanding the right to information, declaration of assets by elected representatives and theright to recall elected representatives.

Gholap had refused to do so, stating that he was accountable only to Sena chief Bal Thackeray. He chose to undertake a tour of his constituency from October 2 to 9 in a bid to consolidate his position among voters, who had elected him to Assembly twice in 1990 and 1995. During his tour Gholap had denied Hazare8217;s charges and said he would face any inquiry to prove his innocence.