Congress leader in a spot over ties with CM

Leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil was left red-faced after the chief minister’s office revealed that he would be in the delegation headed by Devendra Fadnavis to the US. Vikhe-Patil made an attempt to distance himself from the CM’s US tour, but there were no takers for his contention. Vikhe-Patil’s submission was that he was planning to join the CM for the inaugural function of Brihan Maharashtra Mandal in the US.
Though Vikhe-Patil was to bear his expenses for the trip, in view of the criticism in the media, he cancelled his US visit. Vikhe-Patil has caught flak for hobnobbing with the CM. His rivals within Congress believe that in view of his soft spot for Fadnavis, he was unable to take on the BJP government despite its shortcomings. During the budget session, it was expected that Vikhe-Patil would take the government to task over the agrarian crisis and farmer suicides, but he seemed missing from the action. Due to criticism, Vikhe-Patil has become vocal against the Fadnavis government.
Besides demanding the resignation of ministers Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawde for their alleged involvement in scams, Vikhe-Patil urged the CM to quit in the wake of the Malwani hooch tragedy. The moot question is: Will Vikhe-Patil be able to project himself as an “anti-Fadnavis leader of opposition”.
Road to nowhere
Minister of state for public works Pravin Potey Patil has given an ultimatum to PWD officials over repairing potholes in Konkan and the Goa highway. Patil does not know that his predecessors too had issued such warnings, but no action was taken against any PWD official or contractor. Alarmed by a large number of potholes in Konkan and the Goa highway, the then PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal had convened a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation. Bhujbal had given a stern warning to erring contractors and PWD officials for dereliction of duty at all levels, but no stringent measures were taken to improve the condition of roads. At the same time, it was found that the responsibility was never fixed for the craters on roads. Under such circumstances, it was felt that besides the names of the contractor and the engineer should be displayed on the road, only then could the public expect better roads.
Gadkari to the fore
Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has drafted an ambitious plan for development of a remote hamlet in Nagpur as the “best village in Maharashtra”. MPs from Maharashtra have selected villages under the PM’s pet project for development of villages, but the plan prepared by Gadkari is innovative. On his first visit to the village, which has a population of 4,900, Gadkari found that while it was a short drive from Nagpur, the village lacked adequate public toilets, health and education facilities. Accompanied by a team of experts, Gadkari drafted a plan for the complete development of the village. Besides funds from the MP Area Development Fund, Gadkari will make a personal contribution for setting up hi-tech facilities in the village. Wi-fi is now available in the village. A dilapidated school will be reconstructed in six months and the hamlet will get a public health centre, a junior college, cardiac ambulance, a community centre for farmers, and a skill development centre.