Poor governance,ministers lapses and inability to tackle identity politics mark the first 100 days of the Ashok Chavan-led coalition government. The government,which completes 100 days on Sunday,faced the onslaught of a series of issues pertaining to identity politics,including the taxi permit row and objections to film releases (Zenda,Shikshanachya Aicha Gho and My Name Is Khan). It acted too little and too late on many agitations besides providing fodder to the opposition by deciding to issue taxi permits only to locals. While the Motor Vehicles Act clearly stated that the knowledge of Marathi and other local languages was essential,the government communiqué mentioned only Marathi,thereby creating a furore. It gave the cudgels to the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) who are vying with each other to masquerade as the messiahs of Maharashtrians. The government also appeared helpless when politicians imposed extra-constitutional censorship on films. Zenda had to change the name of a character Malwankar after Nitesh Rane objected to it,saying it was modelled on his father and showed him in poor light. Similarly,a disclaimer had to be shown at the beginning of Shikshanachya Aicha Gho when the Maratha Mahasangh raised an objection. Incidentally,both the films were cleared by the censor board,besides the Sena and the MNS. It resorted to a muscle show to prevent Sainiks from waving black flags at Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in the city and later,for preventing them from disrupting the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer. Both Chavan and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Manikrao Thakre emerged helpless in fulfilling their respective roles. Chavan has emerged as a nonchalant and inert politician who needs to be nudged by Delhi to act while Thakre has been hesitant to act against indiscipline. The party issued as many as 125 notices to leaders for anti-party activities,but the threatened disciplinary action is yet to be taken. Chavans detractors from the Vilasrao Deshmukh camp even disrupted a party meeting and forced leaders to wind it up by calling for action against Vikhe-Patils wife. The only disciplinary action taken was a show-cause notice. The government had to face embarrassing situations,like when Tribal Development Minister Babanrao Pachpute of the NCP suggested tribals should make herbal liquor from Moha flowers,and then proposed DNA tests on those wanting to claim reservation in the Scheduled Tribes quota. Besides,Shalini Vikhe-Patil,wife of Transport Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil (Congress),had contested the Ahmednagar Zilla Parishad presidents election and defeated the official nominee. It also had to face the Congress MPs from Vidarbha who teamed up with the BJP to demand statehood for the region,despite a party warning. Swabhiman chief Nitesh Rane,son of Revenue Minister Narayan Rane (Congress),hit the streets on water woes in Mumbai,despite the party saying that it would not allow its members to run private organisations. The uneasy relations between the ruling partners continues,the latest instance being the visit of NCP president Sharad Pawar to the residence of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Even during Cabinet meetings,there had been war of words over issues like the taxi permit goof-up. The chief ministers office has stopped issuing press communiqués; it has instead asked the director general of information and public relations to issue them. Achievements in 100 days(listed by CMs Office)* Rs 100-crore package for Vidarbhas development* Rs 1,200-crore Jal Swarajya project to end water shortage in rural areas* Setting up Delivery Monitoring Unit for flagship schemes of the Centre and the state* Liberating divisional headquarters from daily power cuts* Rs 1,833 crore provision in MMRDAs Rs 6,143-crore budget for Metro and Monorail projects* Compensation paid to farmers affected by cyclone Phyan* First unit of Force One became operational* Special project to improve pilgrimage centres* Time-bound housing project for mill workers
