Miffed over OBC fund allotment, Maharashtra minister & ruling MLAs target minister Atul Save

Sakore-Bordikar, from Parbhani’s Jintur Assembly seat, wrote to Save on April 16, pointing out that not even a single work suggested by her was included in the Rs 4.45-crore worth of works that have been sanctioned in her district. “While sanctioning works in my Assembly constituency, no recommendation was sought from me. At the same time, not a single work suggested by me was included in the list of sanctioned works. Unnecessary works have been sanctioned without following the rules,” Sakore-Bordikar wrote in her letter to Save.

She added that it was necessary to change sanctioned works and the secretary of the department should be intimated to stop those works to ensure “works suggested by me are included”.

When contacted, Sakore-Bordikar said she did write the letter. “It seems there is some technical problem. I have personally spoken to the minister and he was positive on my demand. This issue will be sorted out,” she added.

Apart from the minister, BJP MLA Tushar Rathod from Mukhed Assembly seat in Nanded district and Shiv Sena’s Baburao Kadam-Kohalikar from Hadgaon Assembly seat too have written letters to Save. According to sources, Fadnavis has already stopped the allotment of money in Mukhed tehsil. Kadam-Kohalikar, in his letter to Save, warned that he will “protest against the minister” and he should take a “serious note” of it.

Apart from these legislators, a number of other ruling MLAs from Nanded, Hingoli, Jalna, Parbhani and Buldhana have registered their protests with the minister for not taking them into confidence before releasing money under the scheme. The scheme is aimed at providing civic amenities to the people from Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) which are sizeable in Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha. Despite attempts, the minister was not available for comment.