Gholap, however, is not a novice in filmdom. Over the past decade he has acted in three Marathi films: Neelambari, Saptashrungi Mata and Sansar Maza Sonyacha. Neelambari, which was also produced by him before he became a minister, featured a love story with rebirth as its theme. Gholap had played the role of an orthodox Brahmin in the film. However, other films in which he acted after becoming a minister were mainly based on religious themes. Rings a bell?

Special treatment on rails for an MLAIrrespective of whether an MLA belongs to the party in power, he never hesitatesto assert his power. Rather, he insists on special treatment from others.Recently, BJP MLA from Malkapur, Chainsukh Sancheti and his five friends barged into an air-conditioned coach of the Dadar-Nagpur Sewagram Express at Manmad junction. They were on their way to Murtajapur in Akola district. None of them had confirmed tickets, and were wait-listed. But that didn't deter them from occupying berths of other passengers holding confirmed reservations. When the intruders refused to vacate the berths, passengers called the railway officials.

However, the officials failed to convince the MLA, who remained stubborn. The officials then assured the offending group of reservations from Bhusawal onwards. But the representative of the people refused to budge. Finally, the railway officials, convinced the dislodged passengers that they would be accommodated with berths in the Bhusawal quota. The passengers had no other option, but to comply. But one of the passengers insisted on police protection, fearing violencefrom the MLA and his friends. Police escort was provided till Bhusawal. The train left Manmad over an hour behind schedule, with the MLA and his friends in a jubilant mood. Way to go, in `comfort'!

Bureaucrats set a record of sorts
The Bhagur Municipal Council has set a record of sorts. In the past three years, a dozen chief officers (COs) have been appointed by the State Government to handle its affairs. Frequent transfers of key officials have hampered the civic affairs of Bhagur town, birthplace of eminent freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The financial position of the town is bad. Poor roads and ignored civic amenities greet visitors who go to Bhagur to see the Savarkar memorial.Officials appointed as COs of the Bhagur council were G R Nagare, R D Pawar, P B Katare, P V Panchakshari, K R Wagh, Ajinkya Padwal, T D Kasar, D N Jadhav, V N Shinde, P G Savle and D K Kothawade.

Many were entrusted with additional charge of Bhagur, besides regular job in revenue department.

Proficientthieves spare a `jewel'
Recently, a gang of burglars broke three doors of the Annapoorna temple at Nityanand Ashram along the Mumbai-Agra national highway. They decamped with gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh from the idol of the goddess. The jewellery had been placed on the idol for the Navratri festival.

However, they did not touch a mangalsutra on the idol's neck. For a moment the priest and devotees thought that the burglars might have spared it because a mangalsutra was the traditional symbol of a married Indian woman. But soon they realised that the burglars had left it untouched because it was not made of real gold and was a fake.

-- Rakshit Sonawane