'Maharashtra Governor behaving like Chief Minister'

Maharashtra Minister of Minority Development Nawab Malik slammed Governor Bhagatsingh Koshyari for 'behaving like a 'Chief Minister'. Malik pointedly said Koshyari was trying to create two power centres in the state.

Mumbai: Fresh trouble mounted between Maharashtra Vikas Agadi-led government and Governor Bhagatsingh Koshyari as Minister of Minority Development, Nawab Malik slammed Koshyari for "behaving like a Chief Minister". The minister's remark came up as Koshyari is to inaugurate two hostels set up by the state government in Nanded.

"The Governor seems to have forgotten that he is not a chief minister anymore," said Malik. Koshyari served as Chief Minister of Uttarkhand between October 2001 and March 2002.

"Koshyari is the Chancellor of the University and he has management rights. So arranging this type of ceremony without consulting with the minority development department is not good," said Malik.

Further, the minister pointedly said Koshyari was trying to create two power centres in the state. The Governor has no right to review the district by meeting the district magistrate. Governor can seek any information about the district by writing a letter to the chief secretary. But he's not doing that and using state the rights of the governments directly, Malik stated.

Malik also said the Cabinet has expressed displeasure over Governor's actions. The Chief Secretary will meet the Governor to pass the Cabinet's message. Koshiyari will be on a three-day visit to Marathwada and he will visit Nanded and Hingoli on August 6, as per sources.

The rift between MVA and Governor dates back to Uddhav Thackeray's nomination to the legislative Council which happened over a year ago.

The Governor refrained from nominating him to the Council even though the state cabinet nominated Thackeray for appointment to the upper house of the legislature.