The Congress and NCP are caught in a bitter power tussle over drought, with both parties trying to extract the maximum funds possible for the irrigation department in their respective regions Maharashtra.
The Congress and NCP are caught in a bitter power tussle over drought, with both parties trying to extract the maximum funds possible for the irrigation department in their respective regions Maharashtra.
The NCP-Congress struggle has intensified following Governor K Sanakaranayanan’s directives to spend maximum funds in backward areas of Marathwada and Vidarbha, instead of western Maharashtra.
While Chavan has seriously made up his mind to implement the Governor’s dictum, NCP leaders are an irked lot, with union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar leading the attack on their behalf.
In fact, Pawar went to extent of launching veiled attacks on the governor and barbs at Chavan. The state has okayed Rs7,000 crore for the irrigation sector.
The NCP members who presented their case before deputy CM Ajit Pawar, said in face of inadequate funds there will be severe crisis in western Maharashtra.
“We can’t let go of our share of funds for the region,” said a senior NCP leader, while maintaining that Vidarbha has been consistently getting special financial packages from the Centre.
The political bitterness between the two allies can be gauged from the war of words at play. Sharad Pawar during his visit to Karad on Wednesday said, “It was my repeated plea to Governor to visit the drought-hit regions in state, but that has not happened so far.”
He pulled a fast one at Chavan, saying, “Sitting under the trees and sharing a meal with farmers is not going to resolve agriculture problems.”
However, Chavan, who has embarked on a tour of all drought-hit districts, said, “I don’t need anybody’s permission to tour drought regions.”
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