That's the question going through political circles, after the recent arrest of Sameer Bhujbal and the nod to prosecute Ashok Chavan
Who will be next after the Bhujbals and Ashok Chavan? The question is pertinent for the people in general and haunting for some politicians in particular, even as the BJP is trying to live up to its poll assurance that it is intolerant to corruption.
The Congress and its partner of 15 years in the state government, the Nationalist Congress Party, have accused the BJP of blatantly misusing power against the opposition. They allege that the BJP is out to finish them by hook or by crook.
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Firstly, Sameer Bhujbal, NCP senior Chagan Bhujbal’s nephew, was put behind bars, and then came the sanction to prosecute Chavan in the Adarsh scam. NCP’s associate and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakde is being probed by the ED in cases related to the Bhujbal family.
Interestingly, investigations in all above cases had started in the Congress-NCP rule.
One can safely say the BJP’s role in Bhujbal’s case was to expedite action. But in Chavan’s case, the BJP expanded its role to unthinkable proportions. It simply caught the Congress unawares by overruling the former governor’s decision that the ex-CM cannot be prosecuted.
Chavan, who is touted as the Congress’ CM candidate for the 2019 polls, is expected to find this trial tough if the Apex Court does not offer him any relief. He was made head of state Congress after his unceremonious exit from the CM’s office in the Adarsh scam.
Thus emerges the big question: Will the BJP expedite other major cases of alleged corruption, such as the irrigation scam as well?
Voices of dissent are being raised already. A whistleblower and ex-chief irrigation engineer Vijay Pandhare raised a valid point when he told reporters in Nasik that some big wigs like Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare (both NCP), who are mired in the irrigation scam, were being protected with a certain political motive.
Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
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