On Day 1 of Maharashtra legislature session, Oppn stages protest

Opposition members staged a protest on the premises of the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan as the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature commenced here on ThursdayThe protesters belonging to the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA comprising the Shiv Sena UBT Congress and NCP SP raised slogans against the government over the issues related to farmers and the NEET examSeveral allegations of irregularities have been made in the medical entrance examination the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test Undergraduate or NEET conducted by the National Testing Agency in MaySitting on the state legislature complexs stairs the opposition members raised slogans holding placards in their handsDuring the Maharashtra legislature session being held in Mumbai from June 27 to July 12 the ruling Mahayuti alliance will present the state budget in both Houses of the legislature on June 28 The interim budget was tabled in February ahead of the Lok Sabha electionsOn Wednesday the opposition alliance boycotted Chief Minister Eknath Shindes customary tea party on the eve of the Maharashtra legislature session accusing the government of failing to address issues of the masses reported news agency PTIThis announcement was made by the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Vijay Wadettiwar who belongs to Congress and his council counterpart Ambadas Danve of Shiv Sena UBTThe customary tea party held ahead of every Maharashtra legislature session is scheduled later in the day on WednesdayThe opposition parties have decided to boycott the hightea invitation in protest against the tripartite governments excessive indulgence in corrupt practices They have ignored the plight of farmers and swindled taxpayers money through unnatural cost escalation of various projects Wadettiwar said reported PTIBesides Wadettiwar and his Congress party colleague Balasaheb Thorat NCP SP MLA Jitendra Awhad and Danve leaders of smaller parties put up a united show by attending the presserWadettiwar alleged potential cost escalation in procuring smart electricity meters and buying ambulancesThe actual cost of a smart electricity meter is Rs 2900 per unit and installation charges are around Rs 350 However the state government has planned to buy a meter at a whopping Rs 12500 per unit and the contract has been given to Adani he alleged reported PTIThe new ambulance procurement tender is another example of a high procurement cost The cost of buying new ambulances is Rs 3000 crore but the state government has floated a tender worth Rs 10000 crore Wadettiwar claimed reported PTIHe further alleged that the state government had depleted the deposits of Mumbai civic body by Rs 12000 crore reported PTIThe Congress leader also alleged the government has informally allocated offices to middlemen on every floor of Mantralaya the state secretariatWith inputs from PTI