Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (CM completes two years) that was published in Newsband

CM completes two years

Just recently, Prithviraj Chavan completed two years in office as Maharashtra chief minister. Under his leadership, the state has slipped to sixth position after Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat in attracting foreign direct investments (FDI). Besides, ambitious projects including the Navi Mumbai international airport, 9,900 Mw Jaitapur nuclear power project and a slew of Mumbai’s infrastructure upgrade projects are running behind the schedule. His government was not able to release new industrial policy to keep pace with the competition.

Chavan, who is cashing in on his Mr Clean image, was able to put NCP on a defensive. Series of expose on multi-crore scams and irregularities in the ministries held by NCP helped Chavan to politically outsmart NCP. But Congress party performed miserably under Chavan’s leadership in the elections held during this year to civic and local bodies where NCP’s performance gave Congress a run.

Chavan tended to function as the Congress chief minister instead of coalition government's chief. This naturally annoyed NCP. He tried to woo the opposition Shiv Sena and this made NCP to remind Chavan that he was on top there because of NCP's support.

Maharashtra is losing edge in the manufacturing sector to states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. While investment is coming to India, Maharashtra is losing out to its more pro-active and vibrant counterparts.

Curiously, union agriculture minister and NCP chief, Sharad Pawar, accused Chavan for slow pace of decision making. Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar has been quite vocal against Chavan’s style of functioning. Ajit Pawar claims that files need to be cleared expeditiously instead of being kept for scrutiny. The time has come for Chavan led government to see the dispersal of industrial development other than Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad. Maharashtra continues to shine. However, while attracting investments and industries the state government should pay enough attention on proper infrastructure development. The state government cannot neglect Mumbai’s infrastructure which is decaying day by day as it has to expedite its upgrade.

When a major fire broke in the state secretariat, Chavan led government did not care to do any reconstruction. This is another minus point for Chavan.

Chavan was the architect of release of new Development Control Rules and keeping the TDR (transfer of development rights) under check. However, the realty sector opposed it.

On the whole, Chavan has not impressed the people enough during his reign as Maharashtra’s CM for two years. He’ll have to do something drastic in the days to come to remain on top in Maharashtra.