Ministers, Oppn veterans in a fix over graft charges

MUMBAI: As the monsoon session begins on Monday, for the first time in recent memory both the treasury and opposition benches are grappling with their problems.
BJP ministers are facing charges of corruption, senior NCP legislators are under the anti-corruption bureau’s scrutiny and leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil has maintained silence over crucial issues.
While the Opposition is gearing up to target ministers Pankaja Munde, Vinod Tawde, Babanrao Lonikar and Ranjeet Patil, BJP may take on NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare. The leader of opposition in the legislative council, Dhananjay Munde, had alleged that the state's woman and child welfare department headed by Pankaja Munde purchased items worth Rs 206 crore in a day without inviting tenders. Congress later submitted a memorandum to the ACB, which has now initiated a probe. Education minister Vinod Tawde is in a spot over his BE Electronics degree that was obtained from Pune’s Saint Dnyaneshwar University, a non-recognized institute. NCP leader Nawab Malik had alleged that Tawde didn’t appear for the Std X exam and that a “dummy candidate” wrote the paper in his place. Tawde has denied the charges. Congress has alleged that water conservation minister Babanrao Lonikar has two wives and he hid this information from the Election Commission.
“I have already informed the concern electoral officer to make correction,” Patil said. NCP veterans have been caught on the wrong foot. Bhujbal is likely to keep away as he himself is facing charges of graft in the Maharashtra Sadan case. Pawar and Tatkare are facing the heat in the irrigation scam. The Maharashtra Right to Public Services Ordinance, 2015, amendment to the Entertainment Tax Act and a bill to replace local body tax by value added tax are on the legislative agenda during the session. A cabinet member on Saturday ruled out the possibility of inducting new ministers.