In an unprecedented role reversal, the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance members on Wednesday staged a “walkout” from the Maharashtra legislative Council, after accusing the Opposition parties of disrupting the proceedings in the House over a corruption issue.
The “walk-out” by the ruling saffron alliance members came after three adjournments forced by the Opposition parties, which are in majority in the Upper House, demanding the dismissal of Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the State-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) Radheshyam Mopalwar and resignation of Housing Minister Prakash Mehta over two separate alleged corruption issues.
Trouble broke out after leader of the Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde, sought to move an adjournment motion in the House over a purported telephonic conversation between Mopalwar and a businessman in connection with a deal for a plot of land at Borivali in north Mumbai.
Reading out from the transcripts of purported conversation between Mopalwar and the businessman in question, Munde alleged: “ Mopalwar has made as many as 550 calls to fix the deal. I am sure that a forensic examination of the call recordings will establish the voice heard in the conversation is that of Mopalwar.
These calls have been recorded and transcribed by a company approved by the Maharashtra government”.
Alluding to Mopalwar’s current assignment as the Vice Chairman and MD of the MSRDC handling the Nagpur-Mumbai Maharashtra Samruddhi highway, Munde said: “There had been allegations of corruption against Mopalwar in the past and there was also a demand that he should not made in-charge of the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway which is Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ pet project. He still came to be made the in-charge of the project”.
Alleging that Mopalwar had made investments in reality companies, Munde demanded that the official be suspended forthwith and an inquiry be ordered against him.