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Maharashtra: Now, ministers scramble for bungalows & cabins of choice

Fadnavis's cabinet colleagues want 'branded' residences

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Allotment of Deogiri bungalow has been kept on hold
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As if the discontent over allocation of ministerial portfolios was not enough, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is now facing a tough time allotting the bungalows to his ministers. Therefore, allotment of the most sought-after bungalows — Ramtek and Deogiri — has been put on hold.

According to a senior bureaucrat, besides Varsha, the official residence for the chief minister, Fadnavis has also decided to keep Shivneri, another sought-after bungalow, with him. "It is the prerogative of the chief minister to allot residences to ministers. Allotment of Deogiri and Ramtek has been kept on hold. These are bungalows that several ministers want to live in and therefore they have not been allotted to anyone yet," said the officer.

During the previous Congress-NCP government, Deogiri and Ramtek were occupied by former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and ex-PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal respectively. Now, both revenue minister Eknath Khadse and finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar have made their claim on Ramtek — the more sought-after bungalow of the two. Rural development minister Pankaja Munde desperately sought to have Ramtek because of her memories attached to it. Pankaja had lived in it when her father late Gopinath Munde was the deputy chief minister between 1995 and 1999. However, she has to settle with the Royal Stone bungalow which is smaller in size than Ramtek.

As per the government allotment list, the A-9 bungalow has been allotted to PWD minister Chandrakant Patil.

Sources in BJP also told dna that there has been a controversy over allocation of official cabins to ministers. Former deputy minister Ajit Pawar's cabin was sought by Khadse, Mungantiwar and Vinod Tawade (all three were in the race for the chief minister's post). However, this cabin has been given to Khadse because he is the senior most minister in the BJP government.

Sources said that the ministers are also trying to get their favourite secretaries and personal assistants. "It's better to have a faithful and loyal person as a secretary and an assistant because we handle many sensitive files and documents. We have submitted the list of officials and not waiting for the chief minister's approval," said a senior minister on condition of anonymity.

Senior Mantralaya officials said that such things happen with any regime change. "When a new government comes, then reshuffle happens in the corridors of power. The officials too try to get their post of choice so that they can work with minister they like," he added.

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