Mantris report to work just 4 days a month

Cabinet ministers—driven by poll politics—have turned a blind eye to administrative duties. Be it tackling drought, swine flu or price rise, the government has been found wanting. Almost the entire cabinet, including chief minister Ashok Chavan, is spending more time in political image building than addressing macro problems concerning the state.

The attendance of majority of 42 ministers in Democratic Front government on an average has not been exceeding four days a month, in recent times. Deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal is not alone questioning the “non-functioning” government.

Water resources minister Ajit Pawar was so upset with government apathy towards swine flu that he took the initiative to announce closure of educational institutions in Pune around two weeks ago. Industries minister Narayan Rane also had expressed serious concern over lackadaisical approach of the government in tackling price rise.

All in all, most ministers are reportedly busy lobbying with their political masters in Delhi to ensure they get ticket to contest the assembly polls.

A senior bureaucrat in the chief minister’s office said, “Chief secretary Johny Joseph is running the state government. Except for a weekly cabinet meeting that lasts for two to three hours there is no forum where ministers are seen together debating on state policy matters confronting the common people.” Chavan’s frequent visit to his home constituency Nanded (Mantralaya) has become a talking point in Mantralaya.

A Congress minister revealed, “Till date we’ve had no serious deliberations on how to tackle the price rise issue. The subject was casually discussed at a cabinet meeting last month but there was no follow-up.”

On swine flu, it took two casualties to drive the chief minister to hold first meeting with political parties and cabinet colleagues. Dr Rajendra Shingane, minister for health, has delegated the entire responsibility of running the department to the bureaucrats. The controversial decisions taken by Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, minister for school education, on admissions to junior colleges were never questioned by the chief minister. The minister himself is rarely present in Mantralaya.

Despite 45% of the state reeling under drought there is no task force set up to monitor daily developments. All the problems related to drought at being diverted to Ramesh Kumar, secretary, relief and rehabilitation, with Patangrao Kadam, minister for revenue, nowhere in the picture.