Days after Maharashtra state government fumed over ‘delay’ in appointment of 12 Members of Legislative Council (MLC) by the Governor, he was denied permission to fly the state plane to Uttarakhand. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was to go to Dehradun on Thursday by the state government plane. However, he was informed that he did not have the permission after he boarded the aircraft. His office then booked a commercial flight for him.
As per media reports, the Governor’s office had booked the plane but the permission for the same did not come till last minute. Apparently, the Governor was informed that he does not have the permission after he boarded the plane. The Governor’s office has said that the Governor’s Secretariat had written to the Maharashtra government for use of government aircraft on 2nd February 2021. The Chief Minister’s office was also informed regarding the same.
While Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajay Pawar claims that he does not have any clue regarding this, Shiv Sena’s Vinayak Raut has brazened it out and claimed that since the Governor did not have the permission, he should not have gone to the state aircraft. BJP leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that this step by the Maharashtra government is a black chapter for the state. Calling it a ‘child act’, Fadnavis said that the permission was deliberately denied to insult the Governor.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole had said that the state government will move court over the alleged delay in appointment of MLCs. The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress alliance government has recommended 12 names for appointment to the Council under the Governor’s quota. However, the BJP said that whether to approve or not is the Governor’s prerogative.