Maharashtra nixes tender, 100 GRs issued after poll announced

MUMBAI: Maharashtra govt was forced to drop a tender published by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation apart from withdrawing at least 112 govt resolutions (GRs) issued after the model code of conduct (MCC) came into force on Tuesday. This, following queries raised by the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Office on Wednesday evening.

As many as 359 GRs were issued on Oct 15, the same day when assembly polls were announced at 3.30pm. Also, around 23 GRs were issued on October 16, the day after the model code came into force. By Wednesday evening, the state govt website showed only 247 GRs for October 15 and GRs issued on October 16 were reduced to 2.

The withdrawal came on Wednesday after the media asked the chief electoral office about the potential violation of the poll code in issuing tenders and GRs. In response, additional chief electoral officer Kiran Kulkarni said, "We will speak to the govt regarding tenders and GRs issued after 3.30pm when the code of conduct came into force."

Later speaking to TOI, Kulkarni said, "The MTDC had decided to remove the tender by Wednesday morning itself. But they removed it after we spoke to them in the evening." He said only tenders in the exempted category were allowed to be floated while the code was in force.

Kulkarni also confirmed that all GRs issued after 3.30pm on and after the 15 had been withdrawn after the chief electoral office spoke to the government.

"The government is only allowed to issue GRs which are not targeted at inducing voters. The state has withdrawn all the GRs issued after 3.30pm on the day the MCC came into force. It will examine the GRs and re-upload those which are within the MCC norms," said Kulkarni.

"There are protocols and SOPs for the MCC within a 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour span. Within 24 hours the state has to start acting on the MCC, which it is doing," he said. He said if after 72 hours, there is no action, then it could be treated as an MCC violation.

Among the GRs still on the website is the disbursal of Rs 109 crore for the MLA local area development fund, release of Rs 14.5 crore as subsidy for soft loans to cooperative sugar factories and the provision of Rs 709 crore for the Balasaheb Thackeray Turmeric Research Centre in Hingoli.

Meanwhile, the opposition has accused the state govt of violating the model code. "There are many work orders, GRs and tenders floated by the govt after the MCC came into force. Some are backdated," alleged Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve.