"Suffocated" minister can quit, says Joshi

MUMBAI, Sept 23: While speculations are rife over former Maharashtra chief minister Sudhakarrao Naik joining the Shiv Sena, Chief Minister ...

MUMBAI, Sept 23: While speculations are rife over former Maharashtra chief minister Sudhakarrao Naik joining the Shiv Sena, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today dropped a subtle hint that State Housing Minister Suresh Jain could quit his post if he was feeling "suffocated".

Former Congress leader Jain had joined the Sena last year and was immediately given a cabinet berth. After over a year in the State Cabinet, Jain said last night in Pune that he was feeling suffocated. “I would rather quit the Cabinet than continue as a minister for name-sake, having no powers even to decide on issues related to my department,” he remarked.

Commenting on Jain’s statement, Joshi said a minister had to accept the constraints of functioning within a democratic system, or else he could opt for organisational work instead. Such constraints were applicable to everyone, from prime minister to chief ministers, Joshi added. “For example, the State Government cannot do anything about the Urban Land Ceiling Act because it is a Central act, though it is hampering developmental work,” Joshi said. A minister is expected to find a way out of these problems, he added.

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“Though I would not advise anyone, if Jain would like to opt for organisational work he should approach the Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray,” Joshi asserted. He, however, was all praise for Jain for his efficiency and said that he could perform well wherever he chose to work.

Stressing that it was not just the housing minister who was responsible for the project of providing free housing to 40 lakh slum dwellers, Joshi said his government was making all efforts to take quick decisions on the matter.

When contacted, Jain said the decision as to whether he should take up organisational work or continue as housing minister rested with Bal Thackeray and the chief minister. “I have no differences with Joshi, nor have I discussed departmental delays with him,” he said.

“Though I feel suffocated I am not choked-up, and I would continue my efforts to deliver the goods,” he asserted.

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Meanwhile, Joshi refused to comment on the possibility of Sudhakarrao Naik joining the Sena but announced that several prominent Congress leaders would join his party on October 29. Sena chief Bal Thackeray would address a public meeting at Nagar and officially enroll some of the Congress leaders, Manohar Joshi added, but refused to disclose their names.

On asked whether Naik would be one of them, the Chief Minister said it would be known on the same day. However, the chief minister refused to comment over ongoing negotiations between Naik and Thackeray.

The public meeting would also be attended by former Congress member who defected to the Shiv Sena, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, senior Congress politician Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil and the chief minister himself.