Uddhav Thackeray govt, governor lock horns, yet again

Uddhav Thackeray

The Maharashtra government does not want Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari encroaching upon the state powers by going on independent tours, convening review meetings with bureaucrats and inaugurating development projects without keeping it in the loop. The subject came up for discussion at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, and the chief secretary was asked to visit the Raj Bhavan and deliver the message of protest.

The issue

The Cabinet objected to Koshyari's proposed tour of Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli districts in Marathwada from August 5 to 7. There, he would hold review meetings with district officials. Sources said the tussle would intensify if the governor doesn't respect the Cabinet's concern, and in response, the government asks its officials to skip his meeting and programmes.

"It is clear that the governor is trying to create two power centres in the state," said senior minister Nawab Malik. He had raised the issue in Cabinet because the governor is also scheduled to inaugurate two hostels built by his Minority Affairs Department. "The hostels for girls and boys have not been transferred to the university. The governor may control the universities, but he cannot inaugurate the hostels without informing the government," he said.

The governor was last week criticised for visiting flood-affected areas along with a BJP legislator who was suspended from the assembly recently. NCP boss Sharad Pawar, who never misses an opportunity to get even with Koshyari, had advised the leaders and VIPs to avoid stalling relief work with such visits.

In the past, the governor was reported to the PM for overstepping his powers and delaying the appointment of 12 people to the legislative council. Besides, Koshyari and the CM had earlier exchanged barbs through letters over delay in reopening of temples during the Covid-19 unlock process. Koshyari had once landed in an embarrassing situation, when he was barred from travelling in a state aircraft.

Sources in Raj Bhavan confirmed the chief secretary's visit on Tuesday. "The governor will travel as planned and hasn't changed his programmes. The inauguration of the hostels has been organised by the vice chancellor, not Raj Bhavan," they said.

Also read: Maharashtra government announces Rs 11,500 crore flood relief package

Raj Bhavan on MPSC

In view of certain media reports suggesting that the file containing recom-mendations of members to the Maharashtra Public Service Commission had been lying with Raj Bhavan, the governor's office clarified that it received the file from the state government on Monday afternoon. The file is under consideration of the governor, stated a statement from a Raj Bhavan spokesperson on Tuesday.