Maharashtra minister Ganesh Naik addresses over 400 citizen grievances at Vashi Janata Darbar

Residents from Sanpada raised concerns about water supply issues, while citizens from Airoli and Vashi highlighted problems related to CIDCO notices, an official said. Around 70 per cent of the grievances were resolved on the spot, and the remaining will be addressed within a fixed time frame.

Emphasising citizen-centric governance and administrative accountability, Naik said, “Most officers sincerely work to address public grievances, but some cases face delays due to administrative reasons. The janata darbar aims to close that gap and ensure timely redressal.”

No escape now: Rohit Pawar targets Sanjay Shirsat for CIDCO land scam

After state minister Sanjay Shirsat recently hinted at retiring from politics, his statement has stirred intense debate in Maharashtra’s political circles. Responding sharply, MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday lashed out at Shirsat, linking his remarks to the alleged CIDCO land scam.

“Didn’t you think of stopping when you were benefiting from CIDCO deals? Now that you’re about to lose your ministerial post, you suddenly want to retire from politics? Don’t use age as an excuse to run away,” Pawar said on X. 

Shirsat, who serves as the Minister for Social Justice and Guardian Minister of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, had said earlier, “I’ve worked as a corporator for 10 years and as an MLA for 20 years. I’ve experienced everything I dreamed of. It’s time to stop now.” His Diwali-time remark surprised his supporters and fueled speculation over whether he plans to exit politics or make way for the next generation of his family.

In his post, Rohit Pawar accused Shirsat of misusing power, saying, “You deprived locals of their rightful land and handed CIDCO property worth thousands of crores to private builders and the Bivalkar family. As long as people like you remain in politics, the public will continue to suffer. Don’t hide behind your age now, you’ll have to account for every inch of the Rs 5,000–6,000 crore government land diverted into private hands. No holidays now.”

Pawar also challenged Shirsat to a direct debate: “You decide the time and place, I’ll answer your questions face-to-face, but you must answer mine too.”

Shirsat’s comments have given fresh ammunition to the opposition, which now seems more aggressive. All eyes are on how he responds to the CIDCO land scam allegations and whether this controversy will lead to yet another minister facing political fallout.

(With PTI inputs)