Maharashtra govt jittery over Anna homecoming

The state government has decided to enlist senior bureaucrats to closely monitor and engage in a dialogue with social activist Anna Hazare to avert the transformation of his village Ralegan Siddi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra into another Ramlila (Delhi).

The state government expects Hazare to return to his village next week. Activists rallying around Hazare and the Lokpal Bill will hope to keep the movement alive by holding meetings in the village.

As a safety measure, minister for revenue Balasaheb Thorat and minister for agriculture Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil are going to be entrusted the job of keeping the channels of communication open with Hazare.

Both senior Congress ministers share an excellent rapport with Hazare. Taking a cue from the Centre, the state government is taking all measures necessary in case it needs to take on Hazare and his allies on other issues related to corruption.

A senior bureaucrat said, “Shortly after Hazare’s return in Maharashtra, senior ministers from both Congress and NCP will pay a courtesy call to inquire about his well-being. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar do not want to get on the wrong side of Hazare in the coming days.”

The state also fears that opposition parties, namely the BJP and Shiv Sena, will encourage Hazare to take on in-house corruptions in the Democratic Front government ahead of the crucial local bodies’ elections commencing from December.

Both the Congress and NCP have urged its ministers to strictly act upon complaints related to administrative lapses instead of dismissing them lightly. The CMO has been spruced up to ensure not a single letter or complaint from the members of parliament (MP) or state legislatures in assembly and council (MLA/MLC) goes unattended ahead.

“In the coming days, the opposition is likely to get more aggressive against the NCP top leadership. They have to target Ajit Pawar to make themselves heard among the people,” said a political manager in the NCP on the condition of anonymity.