Cong would like to fight civic polls together with Sena, NCP: Thorat

Nagpur: In an early indication of possible tie up of coalition partners in Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Congress leader and Maharashtra revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat stated his party would like to fight municipal corporation and council polls together with alliance partners.
Speaking to the media during his visit here on Monday for reviewing Covid-19 pandemic situation, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president clarified the talks in this regard were yet to begin. The civic polls in major cities like Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai are slated in 2022.
Surprisingly, he refused to comment on any issues related to controversy over investigations in Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death saying he hadn’t studied the issue.
On grievances lodged by former Congress minister Anees Ahmed regarding inflated power bills, Thorat, who was accompanied by energy minister Nitin Raut and sports minister Sunil Kedar, said complaints were pouring in from entire state and the issue would be discussed in forthcoming cabinet meeting.
“Power sector also needs funds to survive. We will try to find out on how some respite could be provided to consumers,” he said.
He stated the charges of suppression of their democratic rights made by opposition leaders, including ex-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Praveen Darekar, were baseless as the entire administration was busy in fighting pandemic. “We are working as per the government resolution (GR) issued by Fadnavis government. They can’t complain now.”
He denied Congress was playing politics on Maratha reservation issue, currently being heard by Supreme Court, and said under former CM Ashok Chavan, who heads a sub-committee on the subject, regular meetings were held with community leaders.
He said revenue of the entire state was hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak as resources were depleted. “The government however fulfilled its commitment of offering loan waiver to marginal farmers to the tune of Rs 18,000 crore so far. We also made the biggest ever purchase of cotton and milk so far to save farmers from becoming bankrupt due to pandemic.”
Refusing rumours of Sarathi Trust post being taken over by deputy CM Ajit Pawar from Vijay Wadettiwar, Thorat clarified the Congress would name a new incumbent to the post by Tuesday.
He also said some technical snag was delaying the renewing of tenure of three statutory development boards in state and the government was firm on restarting their functioning.
He denied there was any rift between coalition partners and claimed they were working in tandem and focusing on making the state corona-free.
Earlier, Thorat interacted with Congress MLAs, MPs and leaders, including Vikas Thakre and Raju Parve and discussed various issues like implementation of unlocking and strengthening party organisation, besides pandemic.
‘Govt will stand with Mundhe’
Balasaheb Thorat stated government would always stand behind administration doing good work while commenting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe and charges levelled against him by BJP corporators on various issues.