The Fadnavis government has an embarrassing problem at hand: many of its ministers are not present when crucial issues are debated in both Houses of the state Assembly, forcing adjournments and putting government in a fix.
The Fadnavis government has an embarrassing problem at hand: many of its ministers are not present when crucial issues are debated in both Houses of the state Assembly, forcing adjournments and putting government in a fix. To address the issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat has formed a special six-member squad. Their task: to locate and bring the ministers to House whenever their presence is necessary.
The Budget session, which commenced from March 9, has witnessed many an embarrassing moment for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government. Both the Houses were adjourned for more than twice since ministers concerned were missing from the House. On one occasion, the presiding officer took a Cabinet minister to task and asked him to behave in the House after he was found making offensive gestures at the Opposition leaders. Even when the Upper House (Legislative Council) started discussion on Governor's address, the Opposition members could not speak for none from the ruling side, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis or leader of the House Eknath Khadse, was present. The House was adjourned and could resume only after Khadse landed at the House.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Girish Bapat informed that he has deployed a dedicated team of six assistants, who will now help him in this regard. The legislative council as well as Assembly witnessed adjournments for more than once in the first week alone just because of the absence of important ministers concerned, when the issues concerning their portfolios were taken up in the House.
The government has more reasons to worry since almost all the ministers have huge number of visitors thronging their newly allotted bungalows right from the morning. It results in delaying the schedule of the ministers. They are not aware of what is happening around and get briefing by their aides only when they reach office at the Vidhi Mandal. Many a time, when the ministers concerned are expected to be in the House, they could be seen preparing themselves in their chamber.
Even when Chief Minister Fadnavis gave reply to discussion on Governor's address, none of the prominent ministers were present in the Assembly. Bapat said that small size of the Cabinet, than the stipulated 42-member strength, is crippling the government performance in the Houses. It is becoming hectic for the ministers despite the fact Bapat has prepared a timetable for ministers to attend the House in a rotational manner. Now he has deployed a special team and its impact would be seen in coming week, starting Monday.
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