Now, CM decides to hold Aamdar darbars

Now, CM decides to hold Aamdar darbars
SHAILESH GAIKWAD

MUMBAI, JAN 21: Realising that the Democratic Front (DF) legislators are pillars of his Government, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has finally decided to give them a patient hearing before preparing the budget for the coming year.

The CEO of the Democratic Front, alongwith his Cabinet, would hold an ‘Aamdar Darbar’ (meeting of legislators’) on the lines of State Congress’ ‘Janata Darbar’ to hear the grievances and suggestions of the legislators.

The idea came up during the winter session of the State Legislature when angry Congress-NCP MLAs protested against a controversial Government Resolution (GR) on extension of protection to pre-1995 slums in Mumbai. Stringent conditions laid down in the GR had evoked strong protest from the Mumbai MLAs of the ruling front.

In a meeting called by Deshmukh, the MLAs had demanded that the Government should take them into confidence on policy-decisions. They had also suggested the convention of a legislators’ meeting with the Chief Minsiter every month to discuss the Government’s future course of action.

Aware of the nuisance value of the disgruntled legislators, the CM had promptly agreed to convene such meetings.Now, it will be held on January 24.

‘‘The MLAs were complaining that the Government was not hearing them before taking major decisions or introducing bills in the legislature. Also, interaction between them and the Cabinet will create a feeling that we are working as a team,’’ said a senior Congress Minister.

The meeting assumes significance in the context of the budget for the year 2001-2002. Considering the current financial crisis faced by the Government, the next budget would have cut on expenditure under several heads and heavy taxation to increase the revenue. ‘‘The Government is likely to come up with some unpopular decisions for which the legislators will have to be convinced,’’ disclosed the Minister. The MLAs are expected to talk on the issues like Enron and labour reforms.

The Chief Minister has planned to hold regular meetings of the Cabinet with the legislators once every three months, he added. Before the grand DF meeting, Deshmukh has called a meeting of Congress legislators on January 22, to discuss the matters concerning the government on the party forum.