Maharashtra government to hold Monsoon Session in Nagpur

After Devendra Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, became chief minister of Maharashtra, the state assembly will for the first time hold its monsoon session in the city. The session is scheduled to start on July 4.

A minister informed DNA that by holding the monsoon session in Nagpur, the regime intends to highlight issues faced by people in the neglected eastern belt of the state, Vidarbha. This will be opportune in the event the state witnesses snap polls, a plausible event after Diwali.

The BJP and Shiv Sena have jointly run the state administration for about three-and-a-half years now, but their rule has been marked by episodic friction and constant embitterment.

"Many demands from the region will be accommodated in supplementary demands during the July session. The actual funds allocation can be ensured by the end of the year," the minister said.

A three-minister committee, formed by the Cabinet last week, will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday to seal the decision formally.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Girish Bapat, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and Industries Minister Subhash Desai are on the committee.

A BJP leader told DNA that the Constitution, via the Vidarbha pact, binds the state government to hold at least one assembly session in Nagpur. Usually, it is the winter session that is held in Nagpur. But leaders from Vidarbha including Fadnavis have often vocalised the grouse that regimes over the years have ensured that assembly sessions in Nagpur are wound up without much business being done.

Since a Nagpur man is chief minister, and parliamentarians Mungantiwar as well as Bapat are from Vidarbha region, it is likely that the state will announce sops for Vidarbha during the monsoon session.