Its official this is the CMs photoThe chief ministers Office has gone image-conscious,literally. Months after Prithviraj Chavan took over following Ashok Chavans resignation in the wake of the Adarsh housing scandal,the CMO has circulated this photograph as the official photograph that all newspapers in the state should use along with any news concerning the new Chief Minister. Housing regulatorThe government has been struggling since 2006 to pioneer a regulator for the housing sector with the powers of a civil court to register builders,settle disputes,monitor permission,prescribe quotas for low income groups and help determine the prices of flats. The government has been under pressure from builders but expectations have been high since Prithviraj Chavan,described as Mr Clean,took over as Chief Minister. However,when a delegation of builders called on Chavan,there was no discussion on the regulator. He assured builders all help,provided they followed the rules. Ajit and dadagiriWhat is described as arrogance by Ajit Pawars detractors is an outspoken attitude for supporters for Ajitdada. After he became Deputy Chief Minister,the Dadagiri has now starting spilling beyond the party forum and his constituency. At a public meeting in Nanded,he called for curbs on the media for spreading half-truths and exaggerating news. Following the outburst,some cops and members of the audience manhandled journalists. Media organisations have stepped up a demand for a legislation providing special protection from attacks,like the one enacted to protect doctors. Unlikely tie-upsAhead of polls in 10 municipal corporation and 27 zilla parishads,BJP leader Gopinath Munde has predicted an unlikely alliance that includes both the Shiv Sena and the MNS. Coming after a recent rift over the MLC election in Jalgaon (local body constituency) where the BJP fielded Nikhil Khadse and the Sena supported an Independent,Mundes prediction was probably a political posture. So was Sena chief Bal Thackerays call for unity between Dalits and Sainiks after a visit from RPI leader Ramdas Athawale,who is in the political wilderness after his defeat in Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency in 2009. Celebrating NashikAt a time when Nashik has been in the news for onion prices (the countrys biggest onion marketyard is in Nashik),the murder of Malegaon additional district collector by the oil mafia and the crash of an Army helicopter in a residential area,guardian minister Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP),his MLA son Pankaj and MP nephew Sameer have celebrated the Nashik Festival. Organised on the lines of the Pune festival,it included dances and competitions involving celebrities. Insiders say it allows the insecure Bhujbal clan to interact with people in the district and consolidate their position.
