Prakash Mehta replaced by Ravindra Chavan, who is known to be a confidante of CM Fadnavis
Amidst the ongoing inquiry by the Maharashtra Lokayukta against him in the SRA scam, State Minister of Housing Prakash Mehta on Wednesday was stripped of his charge of Raigad district Guardian Minister. He has been replaced by the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Ravindra Chavan. Chavan is known to be a close confidante of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He is also credited with BJP's sterling performance at the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation polls held last year.
The government on Wednesday issued a notification to this effect. However, it was silent on the cause of Mehta's removal.
Mehta downplayed the development. He told DNA: "I had personally requested the Chief Minister a year ago to relieve me as the Raigad district Guardian Minister. Finally, he has accepted my request and relieved me."
However, some party leaders said that Mehta had to go following the widening gap between him and the party leaders from Raigad district. "Dialogue between Mehta and local leaders was missing which impacted the growth of BJP in the district. The Peasants and Workers Party and Nationalist Congress Party alliance is ruling the Zilla Parishad in the district. Mehta was the district guardian minister, but he was unable to provide sufficient funds in the constituencies of party's elected representatives. This was also another cause of resentment," a party leader from Raigad district said on a condition of anonymity.
Mehta's removal comes at a time when the Lokayukta is investigating the permissions granted by him for a slum rehabilitation scheme at MP Mill compound in Mumbai. The minister has been accused of giving permission despite a senior housing department bureaucrat warned that it might accrue a windfall gain of Rs 500 crore to the developer concerned.
Fadnavis had revoked the permissions after newspaper reports claimed that the government was wilfully extending monetary benefits to the developer. Mehta through his lawyer has already submitted his reply in January to the Lokayukta office.
BAD TIMING
- Mehta’s removal comes at a time when the Lokayukta is investigating the permissions granted by him for a slum rehabilitation scheme at MP Mill compound in Mumbai.
- The minister has been accused of giving permission despite a warning that it might accrue windfall gain of Rs 500 cr to developer
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