Maharashtra: Cong says govt to spend Rs 150 cr on meet, govt says error in advert

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Tuesday launched a scathing assault on the state’s ruling Mahayuti coalition, accusing it of spending a whopping Rs 150 crore on preparations for a cupboard assembly in Ahilyanagar district.

The BJP-led coalition authorities, nevertheless, clarified that it had issued an commercial for a young value Rs 1.5 crore for the proposed cupboard assembly, however the quantity was revealed “incorrectly” as Rs 150 crore.

In a put up on X, Sapkal hooked up a young discover revealed in newspapers stating that Rs 150 crore will likely be spent on mandaps (momentary platforms), staging, inexperienced rooms, bogs, barricading, sound, air-conditioners, electrical energy, hearth brigade and CCTV set-up for the assembly. The discover states that an e-tender will likely be floated on 24 April.

A cupboard assembly is scheduled on 29 April in Chondi, the birthplace of the legendary 18th century Malwa queen Ahilyabai Holkar, whose three hundredth start anniversary 12 months is being noticed this 12 months. Final 12 months, the western Maharashtra district of Ahmednagar was renamed Ahilyanagar as a mark of honour.

The Congress chief claimed within the put up that the federal government had mentioned the state was in monetary bother. He identified that the Mahayuti authorities has discontinued a pilgrimage scheme for senior residents, didn’t hike the allowance beneath the Ladki Bahin Yojana for girls as promised throughout the meeting polls final 12 months, and refused to waive farm loans.

Sapkal wrote, “Rs 150 crore is being squandered on the pavilion and preparations for the cupboard assembly to be held at Chondi.”

He alleged that Rs 1.5 crore was spent on a helipad when Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah visited NCP chief Sunil Tatkare’s home in Raigad final week.

“Powerbrokers sitting within the authorities are having fun with five-star amenities, placing individuals in monetary issue,” the MPCC president charged.

The state authorities, in an official assertion, clarified the commercial was for works value Rs 1.5 crore for the proposed cupboard assembly, however the determine was wrongly printed as Rs 150 crore.

The Public Works Division has clarified that whereas issuing the discharge order for the commercial, it was clearly acknowledged that it was value Rs 1.5 crore.

State Income Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule termed Sapkal’s criticism of the federal government on the tender concern as “infantile”.

“On April 21, the Public Works Division, Ahilyanagar, revealed an commercial for the proposed cupboard assembly at Chondi. Whereas giving the discharge order for this commercial, it’s clearly acknowledged that it’s value Rs 1.5 crore,” he mentioned.

Bawankule mentioned the order was revealed in two newspapers, however one in every of them had printed the quantity “incorrectly”.

Sapkal hit again on the BJP minister, saying, “I assume that since you’re very, very senior in politics, you may learn numbers. As an alternative of childishly criticizing a newspaper (get info from the Public Relations Division). They’ve admitted that they made an unintentional mistake.”