Prithviraj Chavan wants simple living, high thinking

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s nameplate has already been put outside his official bungalow, Varsha, at Malabar Hills. But the CM himself continues to live at, and function from, the state guest house at Sahayadri.

His official staff indicated that he is not averse to shifting to the official bungalow provided it is modestly maintained, minus the luxury.

His close aide disclosed that Chavan was taken aback when he was informed that there are 40 air conditioners at Varsha, and that every room is equipped with a hi-tech television set.

A senior officer revealed, “After seeing the lifestyle of his predecessor at Varsha, the CM indicated his desire to continue to live and work from a single room suit at Sahayadri. However, he was informed that for security and logistic reasons, he will have to occupy Varsha as it has a structure to accommodate huge staff who have to be on duty round the clock.”

Season of reshuffle
Now that the winter session is through, CM Chavan is likely to engage in the major exercise of bureaucratic reshuffle, partly to fill up vacant posts and partly to make some corrections. But unlike in the past, when orders were issued based on seniority alone, there will be a new element added this time.

The CM will ensure that none of the tainted senior babus are picked for important assignments. Generally, the chief secretary conducts the short listing. But JP Dange finds his name cropping up in a housing society controversy at Navi Mumbai, where it is alleged that Cidco sold the land at a lower than market rate.

Similarly, half a dozen able bureaucrats, including the likes of Uttam Khobragade and Jairaj Phatak, are afraid they will miss the opportunity because they own flats in Adarsh society. A senior minister said, “Why make a handful of officers a scape goat? There are at least 150 bureaucrats in service whose names have not figured in any housing scam but are beneficiaries of concessions extending to the housing society.”

Opposition has a common minimum agenda
NCP president Sharad Pawar’s suggestion that the ruling parties and the opposition should make state development a common goal has triggered a debate among the members of the Shiv Sena and the BJP.

A senior BJP leader said, “The opposition is not adopting the tactics of protest just to score brownie points. After all, we are also accountable to the people.” What has upset the opposition is that the Congress-NCP alliance has never taken the opposition in confidence on any issue in the last ten years. Leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse cites the example of how there has not been a single meeting of the committee constituted post 26/11 to discuss security in Maharashtra. The BJP leaders argue, “If the Democratic Front government takes the initiative, the opposition is ready to lend a helping hand on important issues which relate to the development of state.” 

Correction, December 21, 2010: Secretary Nitin Kareer was wrongly mentioned as owning a flat in Adarsh Society. His name has been removed.