Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday filed his nomination for the by-elections to the State Legislative Council, scheduled to be held on May 4. In his election affidavit, he declared movable and immovable assets worth Rs.6.81 crore.
Accompanied by leaders from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Mr. Chavan filed his nomination at the office of Returning Officer Anant Kalse at the Vidhan Bhavan at 1 p.m.
According to the affidavit, a copy of which was given to the media, Mr. Chavan has movable assets, comprising balances in various banks, shares in companies and investments in government schemes, which were worth Rs.4,18,17,779. His immovable assets, comprising agriculture and non-agriculture lands and apartments, are worth Rs.2,21,30,000. Movable and Immovable assets in the name of his spouse Satvasheela Chavan amount to Rs.42,27,810. The total assets of Mr. Chavan — including those of Mrs. Chavan — are worth Rs.6,81,75,589.
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Under the section ‘Details of Houses and Apartment' in Annexure C, Mr. Chavan has declared the controversial flat in Wadala, Mumbai. The flat, measuring 1,032 sq. ft. is valued approximately at Rs.52,00,000.
Right to Information activist Anil Galgali had alleged that Mr. Chavan was not eligible for the flat which had been bought for Mr. Chavan's mother, Premlatai Chavan. He said the Chief Minister had got it under the MPs quota. After the controversy broke out, it was said that Mr. Chavan might return the flat.
In response to the declaration, Mr. Galgali said: “This is a welcome move by Mr. Chavan. He has finally disclosed that he owns the Wadala flat, though the admission has come a few years too late. A number of questions still need to be answered.”
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Mr. Chavan has declared two other houses, one in Delhi and one in Satara district of Maharashtra, worth Rs.80,00,000 and Rs.60,00,000 respectively.
Opposition
It is uncertain whether Mr. Chavan would be contesting unopposed. The Congress had said it would appeal to the Opposition to ensure that the election was unanimous. However, the Opposition on Thursday said that there was no decision on its part.
Eknath Khadse, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, told the press that his party had taken the nomination form and may field a candidate either from the BJP, Shiv Sena or the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
“I spoke to party president Nitin Gadkari and we are awaiting his instructions. We are yet undecided on whether to field a candidate,” he said.
Mr. Chavan succeeded former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who had to resign in the wake of the Adarsh Housing Society scam last November. A Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. Chavan has to be elected to the State Legislature within the six-month period that ends on May 11. Sanjay Dutt, former MLC, had resigned to making way for Mr. Chavan's candidature.