Nagpur News.
After a flip-flop and highly charged protest, EGS Minister Nitin Raut has finally been appointed Guardian Minister of Nagpur District.
Similarly, an order effecting change of Guardian Ministers for Wardha, Yavatmal and Bhandara districts has been issued. Accordingly, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Rajendra Mulak, who is Guardian Minister of Wardha District, has been made Guardian Minister of Bhandara District. Mulak has been replaced by Minister of State for Public Works Ranjit Kamble. Social Justice Minister Shivajirao Moghe has been shifted and will be Guardian Minister of Yavatmal District replacing Nitin Raut.
It may be recalled, a bungle and fumble relating to change of guardian ministers in four districts of Vidarbha was made by the Government. A list was published but within hours it was withdrawn as Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan stayed the order after Nitin Raut strongly protested his shunting to Bhandara instead of Nagpur. According to Government order, Shivajirao Moghe was to be replaced Rajendra Mulak as Guardian Minister of Nagpur District. Moghe was to be shifted to his native district of Yavatmal replacing EGS Minister Nitin Raut who was to be given charge of Bhandara. In Wardha, Mulak was to be replaced by Ranjit Kamble.
The original order said government was effecting change of guard in Nagpur where social justice minister Shivajirao Moghe was to be replaced by minister of state for finance and planning Rajendra Mulak. Moghe was to be shifted to his native district of Yavatmal replacing EGS minister Nitin Raut who was to be given charge of Bhandara. In Wardha, Mulak was to be replaced by minister of state for public works Ranjit Kamble.
However, the move left Nitin Raut red-faced as he was demanding charge of Nagpur district. In October last, he had made a fervent appeal to CM that he would like to preside over the Dhammachakra Pravartan function at Deekshabhoomi as Guardian Minister of the district. His pleas were ignored citing the norm that one cannot be made guardian minister of one’s home district.
But the latest list issued by Government rubbed the salt on Raut’s wounds. Raut felt ditched disregarding his claim, seniority and instead giving preference for Nagpur to Mulak who is not even a cabinet minister. Raut put his foot down and refused to accept the change. A beleaguered Chavan quietly withdrew the order.
