Joshi case to dominate session

Both Shiv Sena as well as BJP ministers have questioned the propriety of Joshi8217;s decision to make a statement in the legislative assembly. They observed that legally, Joshi may not be permitted to make such a statement simply because the on-going litigation and the observations of the high court are not even remotely linked to the legislative business. Under the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly rules, a member is empowered tomake personal clarification, only if an allegation is made against him on the floor of the House. Under such circumstances, it will be difficult for Joshi to make a statement in the House.

Ever since Joshi was sworn in as the Chief Minister on March 14, 1995, he had been the main target of the Congress-led opposition. Congress member R R Patil in the Lower House and leader of opposition Chhagan Bhujbal had left no stone unturned to embarrass Joshi for rampant corruption in the Urban Development Department headed by him.

Both Bhujbal and Patil had squarely blamed Joshi for his alleged involvement in the multicrore land scandal related to Sahara.

8220;Though, he is not a Chief Minister now, we will have to take cognisance of the observations of the High Court. Now it has been clearly established that there was gross misuse of power by Joshi for his son-in-law,8221; Bhujbal pointed out. On the other hand, Shiv Sena as well as BJP ministers feel that the degree of embarrassment will be less since Joshi is notthe Chief Minister now. Had he been on the coveted post, then it would have been a very unpleasant situation for the alliance government.

On Joshi8217;s decision to quit, the Sena and BJP cabinet members remarked that it will not have any adverse impact on the alliance government. 8220;Since almost all the independent legislators are with us, there is absolutely no threat to the alliance government,8221; a BJP minister said. Chief Minister Narayan Rane echoed the view, saying Joshi8217;s decision will not have an adverse impact on the state government.

Besides the row over Joshi8217;s son-in-law, the controversy over scrapping of the Mayor-in-Council, abrupt transfer of Pune Divisional Commissioner Arun Bhatia, deteriorating law and order situation, worsening financial condition of the state, Shiv Sena workers8217; attack on government officials at Nanded, Parbhani, Beed and Nashik and failure of the alliance government to provide free houses to 40 lakh slumdwellers and employment to 27 lakh jobless youths will also figureduring the session.