State administration at standstill

For the alliance government, the real trouble began in March last year when Thackeray blasted Chief Minister Manohar Joshi for poor administration and corruption. Subsequently, Thackeray announced that he will remain out of active politics for sixmonths mainly to protest against the failure of the alliance government to deliver the goods.

When the self-imposed exile came to an end, everyone around expected Thackeray to make drastic changes in the organisation and also ask Joshi to galvanise the entire administration to fulfil the promises made by the Sena-BJP alliance in the vachannama manifesto. However, the much-expected changes in the organisation and the administration never came. Then came the issue of providing free power to farmers. On October 1, Thackeray, at a rally, promised that the State Government would provide free power to farmers. To this, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde publicly opposed Thackeray8217;s order to provide free power saying, financially, it would not be possible. Then Munde took the stand that if the alliance government extends matching grants for the same, only then can Thackeray8217;s directive be implemented.

On December 9, Thackeray announced that cotton prices under the monopoly cotton procurement schemewould be hiked from Rs 2,100 to Rs 2,500 per quintal. But both the announcements made by Thackeray could not be implemented in letter and in spirit. A proposal moved by Munde was stopped by a Sena minister on the ground that it should be considered along with the proposal for providing free power to the farmers. quot;It is really shocking that the order given by the head of the ruling party is not implemented.

This clearly indicates that there is absolutely no coordination between the two parties and reflects lack of trust,quot; the bureaucrat pointed out. While the row over providing free power or hike in cotton prices was politically motivated with an eye on the rural vote bank, the stand taken by Sena on Deepa Mehta8217;s controversial film Fire was more disturbing for the entire police force, revealed a senior police official.

quot;We feel that even if there was objection to the film since it adversely affected our culture, Thackeray should have taken up the dispute with either the Prime Minister or theMinister for Information and Broadcasting instead of asking his party workers to stop the screening of the film,quot; the police official said. quot;Since they are in the government, it is expected that they will take up their disputes with the Centre. However, if they create uncalled for situation, then it is not acceptable,quot; the police official pointed out.

After Fire, it was the ban on entry of Pakistan cricket team to India. Reacting to this the official said, quot;We are facing a piquant situation over Sena8217;s stand since it is creating a major law and order problem for us.

Under such circumstances, we will have to take unpleasant decisions to deal firmly with the members of the ruling party,quot; the official said. While the Sena is determined to halt the entry of Pakistan8217;s team to India, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has assured his Pakistani counterpart of full protection to the visiting cricket team during the entire period of stay.