The supercessation of Board of Maharashtra State Cooperative bank has raised the political temperature of Mumbai politics. Luckily or unluckily, Sharad Pawar’s nephew and State Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was on the board and act of RBI is being interpreted as move to decimate Sharad Pawar’s clout.
Readers may be aware that RBI superseded Board of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank on the recommendation of NABARD. Bank is found to be guilty of giving unsecure loan to many of the sugar factories. Sugar cooperative is the strong hold of NCP as Sharad Pawar is seen as product of Sugar cooperatives.
It is true that NCP was controlling levers of power at the bank as it has to oblige many of its constituencies. NCP circle sees in this move, a Congress attempt to rob its power.
Not only that, voice demanding resignation of Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister is also getting louder. Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray sought the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
“Why should different yardsticks be applied to Ashok Chavan and Ajit Pawar? Chavan was forced to quit after the Adarsh housing scam. So many of alleged irregularities committed by Pawar are coming to light these days,” Uddhav said.
Sena leader said Pawar should quit his post to ensure impartial inquiry into the bank’s affairs.
Congress is fighting hard to prove to the world that the act of RBI is not political. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre said RBI’s action was a follow-up on a report by NABARD and Nabard falls under Agricultural Ministry. He said that Ajit Pawar need not resign as case of Bank is different from that of Adarsh Society scam.
Meanwhile NAFSCOB, the apex body of state cooperative bank has been reduced to mere spectator in the whole drama. Talking to Indian Cooperative.com, its Chairman Bijender Singh said “ I am going to Mumbai to find out the truth”.