BMC elections 2022: Congress, dissatisfied with government functioning and funding allocation, has asked the CM to intervene

Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections 2022, the Congress, a junior partner in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, expressed its concern on Thursday with the government's lack of prominence, the non-allocation of necessary finances to the departments controlled by its ministers, and its lack of influence in the administration.

 

On Thursday, a team of party ministers and senior leaders met with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to seek his involvement in ensuring the party's proper respect, space in the government's operation, and a bigger allocation of cash for its ministers. The group is said to have expressed dissatisfaction with the stepmotherly treatment provided to ministries held by Congress ministers, such as energy, tribal development, public works, relief, and rehabilitation, as opposed to the treatment given to departments controlled by the NCP and Shiv Sena.

 

The Congress' action comes at a time when there has been talking of forming an alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party in the upcoming elections to 15 local bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation if the Congress decides to go it alone. The action by Congress comes only days before the start of the state legislature's budget session and the presentation of the annual budget for 2020-23 by NCP veteran and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is in charge of the finance and planning departments.

 

"The Congress delegation called on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and discussed crucial matters, including fund allocation," state unit chief Nana Patole said. The CM has responded positively to all of Congress's concerns and has vowed to personally look into the allotment of funds."

 

"We submitted several recommendations to the Chief Minister regarding the Maha Vikas Aghadi government's activities during the last two years." Disconnection of electricity connections, particularly in rural regions, was also discussed," Patole stated.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @NANA_PATOLE