Ruckus over office for Lodha at BMC

Mangalprabhat Lodha in his office at the BMC HQ. File pic

The state government has said that having an office at the civic headquarters was within the powers of the guardian minister. The matter was raised in the Legislative Assembly by the Congress and other opposition members who shouted slogans, disrupting the proceedings on Wednesday afternoon. Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil told his former party colleagues Varsha Gaikwad, Nana Patole and others about the guardian ministers' scope of work and the authority the position held. "Earlier, guardian ministers had their offices in the district collector's office. There is nothing wrong. In fact, the question about it does not arise," he said, while the opposition grilled his ministerial colleague Uday Samant, who has been deputed to answer queries related to the urban development department, which is officially held by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

‘BMC autonomy encroached'

Diverting a debate on Mumbai's project-affected people, Gaikwad told the house that the government had encroached on the autonomy of the BMC. "We have come to know that the guardian minister has nominated certain former corporators of the BJP to work from his BMC office. What about former corporators from other parties?" she said. When the uproar continued, Speaker Rahul Narvekar came in to control the tempers. The young presiding officer, who officiated during the ruckus in Narvekar's absence, complained to the speaker that he had faced many interruptions from the "shouting" members, and hence they should be disciplined.

Sena-style action: Prabhu

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu told reporters that they would take the matter in their hands and in the Sena style. He said there was no point in raising the issue in the house because, either their microphones were switched off when they attempted to speak, or a reply was not given. "This has happened for the first time in the 150 years of BMC. The commissioner is under pressure because he too wants to complete his tenure," said Prabhu.

What Lodha said

Earlier, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the guardian minister of suburban district, who took charge of the office last Friday, had said that space will be used during disaster situations for coordination between agencies and citizens. Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray had given Lodha an ultimatum to vacate the office in 24 hours, failing which "angry Mumbaikars would be free to take appropriate action." Explaining the need, Lodha had said that there are around 15,000 complaints received through the Janta Darbar and 3,700 of the issues were solved. "We need to conduct meetings with BMC officials for various issues and they would visit Mantralaya. Now I will hold meetings in the cabin at the BMC head office. It will save them time."