Speak up Mumbai: Nagpur to host Monsoon Session as well this year

When the state of Maharashtra was formed from contiguous Marathi-speaking areas of the then states of Bombay, Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad, its then capital Nagpur lost its capital status. There was a major discontent among the residents of Vidarbha, who demanded a separate Vidarbha state. To placate the people of Vidarbha, it was decided that one of the sessions of Maharashtra Legislature will be held in the orange city. Since then the winter session of the Maharashtra state Assembly is conducted in Nagpur. 

However, this year the government has decided to hold monsoon session in Nagpur. The reason being attributed to this shift is the bad condition of the MLA hostels in the city. State housing minister Prakash Mehta said the decision has been taken to prevent any mishap, which might lead to major embarrassment for the government.

The responses we received are varied. While most do not have an issue with where the sessions are being held, they feel that issues related to common man must be addressed. Real action, and not mere 'tokenism' is what they expect from the session.

VOICES

When Vidarbha was amalgamated with Maharashtra, Nagpur became the second capital of Maharashtra and has been hosting the winter session. Organising monsoon session in Nagpur is a part of a bigger political plot of BJP which aims to make Vidarbha a separate state. However, one must keep in mind the resultant financial burden the State has to bear by organising the monsoon sessions in Nagpur.
—Kirtikumar Shinde, Kandivali

The government has decided host monsoon session in Nagpur, this time on the grounds that the MLA hostel in bad condidion and is due for renovation. If accommodation was the only problem, it could have been solved by lodging them somewhere else. Monsoon session could have continued in Mumbai. The reason, I feel, might set a bad precedence.
—Dhanashree Patade, Dahisar

There was no opposition to the monsoon session being held in Nagpur. However, we had reservations. The session shouldn't be a mere formality, it should address the issues faced by the people of Vidarbha and assure them of respite. Also if the monsoon session is taking place in Nagpur, the winter session will be held here in Mumbai.
—Neelam Gorhe, MLC, Shiv Sena

No proper accommodation for the MLAs is the reason why the session is bein held in Nagpur. The hostels are in bade shape and if any mishap happens, it will send out a wrong message. Also this will be the fourth time in history of Maharashtra when the monsoon session will be held in Nagpur. The only aim is to have proper facilities for the MLAs. We are also looking at options in Mumbai so that we don't have to shift the sessions to Nagpur frequently.
—Prakash Mehta, Minister, Maharashtra State.

The idea behind the Nagpur session was to give a level playing field to Vidarbha, as envisaged by the Nagpur Pact. Over the years, the session has lost its sheen and is rooted in tokenism. The government apparently wants to streamline supplementary grants. This may happen only if the house functions and the bureaucracy works sensitively.
—Dr Deepak Pawar, Assistant Professor, University of Mumbai.

It is always the state that decides where to conduct winter and monsoon sessions. As per the Nagpur pact, a session should be conducted in Nagpur which will take up issues faced by the people of Vidarbha. If there is a talk of holding both the sessions in Nagpur, it is a policy decision and government will only take a call.
—Dr Ramaswamy N, Commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

A session can be held anywhere, without lowering the stature of the the capital city. The session should focus on issues pertaining to the state. I don't mind if the session is held in Nagpur, but then equal importance has to be given to Mumbai. People from other parts of the state, especially Mumbai, shouldn't feel that more importance is being given to one city. The problem being cited for the monsoon session in Nagpur is genuine. However, the underlying question is why did the government not work on it all this time?
—Pranjali Bhaye, Worli

How does it matter? Importance of where it is held is of no use to us. Citizens will suffer anyhow. Sessions were conducted in Mumbai too. Did it make any difference? Floods will hit Mumbai this monsoon like every year. Height of the Andheri Kurla Road is increased by four feet. Increasing the height of the road might prevent flooding, but other internal roads may get flooded. How does it make any difference?
—Ravi Nair, Marol

EXPERT SPEAK

I do not think there should be any problem for holding assembly session in Nagpur in today's time. There are so many advanced tools of communication and technology enables us to share files and records easily. Hence, I do not feel that administration will face any problem if monsoon and winter both assembly session is held away from Mumbai in Nagpur.
—DM Sukthankar, Former chief secretary of Maharashtra

I think it's an unnecessary expenditure causing loss to the state exchequer. What is the need to shift the capital for a session when all is digital today? Maybe 50 years ago it was a different situation of "governance at your doorstep". So, I feel it's totally a waste of the states finances. I also think that the convention of winter session at Nagpur must also be scrapped. Crores of money saved can saved in the process which can be used to help our farmers,orphans and the needy citizens instead.
—Adv Sujay kantawala, lawyer.