Fearing Maharashtra election rout, Chavan goes into overdrive

A fter prolonged delay, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has made a successful attempt to shed his image as non-performing leader. In a span of 15 days, Chavan transferred 40 bureaucrats, approved 35 cabinet proposals worth Rs 25,000 crore and cleared an estimated 1,000 crucial files.

Earlier senior bureaucrats and ministers had also lodged a strong protest over his style of functioning. Since Chavan had worked in the PMO, it was expected that he would bring in more professionalism and discipline in the decision-making process, but both bureaucrats and his cabinet colleagues were disappointed.

Senior bureaucrats felt that he would shift at least those officials, who had completed three to four years. Ministers were sure that once a file is submitted in the CM's office, it would be cleared within a day or two. Although Chavan transferred senior bureaucrats there was no replacement but for a period ranging between one and six months. Files submitted by the cabinet were returned in a day or two, but without any specific decision. In the past when it was brought to his notice that if the style of functioning was not changed, the Congress would have to pay a heavy price in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, there was sudden change at all levels in the CM's office.

Cop spurns bribe

Sub-inspector Namdeo Mudde was not expecting a bouquet but at least a word of appreciation from the DGP, minister of state Satej Patil or home minister R R Patil after he refused to accept Rs 15 lakh bribe. But the cop was left empty-handed. However, the Aurangabad media showered praise on him for his honesty. Mudde is attached to the Aurangabad police and was investigating rampant irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Assurance Scheme. Mudde unearthed embezzlement to the tune of nearly Rs two crore. After the cop submitted a comprehensive report, a section of senior bureaucrats offered him Rs 15 lakh if he dropped their names from the chargesheet. Mudde could have cut a deal but he decided to approach the anti-corruption bureau. All the five accused were successfully trapped as they were offering Rs 15 lakh to the cop and remanded in police custody. At a time when corruption is on the rise among police officials and members of law-enforcement agencies have been caught red-handed in the police station, Mudde has set an example.

Intelligence agencies in the dark

Both the state intelligence department (SID) and the special branch (SB) were at the receiving end for their poor network. A week ago, when an estimated one lakh people gathered around Mantralaya for "a house costing Rs 54,000", the SID and the SB were clueless about why they had reached Mantralaya.

When scribes asked chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and home minister R R Patil about the rush, both were speechless. Late in the evening, the CM's office announced that there was no such housing scheme for the poor and appealed that citizens should not fall prey to rumours.

Subsequently, an offence was registered against unknown persons at the Marine Lines police station. If a high-ranking bureaucrat is to be believed, then besides the SID and SB, even the CM's office is equally responsible for the lack of intelligence. It was found that suddenly there was unexpected rush in the registry department of the CM's office on the first floor. On average 25 to 50 people visit the office daily, but thousands queued to submit an application for a tenement. Since all the applications were identical and non-official, the registry department should have alerted senior bureaucrats in the CM's office and the Mantralaya deputy commissioner of police. Instead of swift action, the registry officials set up more tables to ensure that there was no hardship. It's indeed shocking that the SID and the SB were in the dark on the controversy over the non-existent scheme for free houses for the aam admi.