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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Plea in HC for fresh polls, new body

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai : A senior medical practitioner has knocked on the doors of the Bombay High Court, alleging serious irregularities in the functioning of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) and challenging the continuation of its current Administrator.   In a petition filed through Advocate Sharad V. Natu, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant has termed the appointment and prolonged tenure of former MCA Chairman as “illegal and arbitrary,”  and detrimental to the cause of Acupuncture....

Plea in HC for fresh polls, new body

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai : A senior medical practitioner has knocked on the doors of the Bombay High Court, alleging serious irregularities in the functioning of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) and challenging the continuation of its current Administrator.   In a petition filed through Advocate Sharad V. Natu, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant has termed the appointment and prolonged tenure of former MCA Chairman as “illegal and arbitrary,”  and detrimental to the cause of Acupuncture.   Dr. Beramji, who headed the five-member statutory body 's inaugural term (from May 2018 to May 2023), was subsequently appointed as its Administrator after the council’s term expired.   According to Dr. Sawant’s plea, the Administrator’s appointment was initially meant to be a stop-gap arrangement for one year, and it was ‘extended’ later. However, nearly three years later, the position continues without fresh elections being conducted, raising questions over adherence to statutory norms and principles of governance.   Dr. Sawant has further contended that while Dr. Beramji was installed as Administrator, the remaining members of the council were effectively superseded, leaving the regulatory body without its mandated collective structure, and over 6500-members directionless.   The petition claims that the delay in conducting elections was justified on the grounds of an incomplete voter list, but this reason was flimsy considering the extended time lapse.   The petition, likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday (April 21), also levelled serious allegations regarding the manner in which the MCA has been run under the Administrator. It claims decisions have been taken unilaterally, whimsically and without transparency or institutional accountability.   Besides, Dr. Sawant has made allegations of selective targeting of certain members who have attempted to raise valid issues, including the globally-renowned noted acupuncture expert Dr. P. B. Lohiya of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.   Adding to the controversy, a former MCA office-bearer has claimed that over the past three years, approvals were granted to more than a dozen acupuncture colleges in undue haste, purportedly in violation of prescribed norms and alleged shady deals.   These institutions, it is claimed, either exist only on paper or lack essential infrastructure, faculty, and facilities. In addition, around two dozen Continuous Acupuncture Education (CAE) centres were also cleared during this period.   In his multiple prayers to the high court, Dr. Sawant has sought quashing Dr. Beramji’s appointment as MCA Administrator and setting aside all policy decisions taken during his tenure in that capacity in the last three years.   The petition also urged the court to direct the state government to conduct elections to elect and reconstitute a new five-member MCA within two months.   Pending this, the plea seeks an order restraining the Administrator from continuing in office or interfering in the functioning of the MCA or the CAEs in the interest of free and fair elections or the cause of Acupuncture.   Sources within the MCA have described the situation as “deeply concerning,” alleging that individuals of international standing, such as Dr. Lohiya - who has treated prominent personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, the late Manoj Kumar, state and central ministers and other public figures - are being unfairly hounded.   The petition has called for a comprehensive review of all decisions taken during the Administrator’s tenure, a financial audit of the MCA’s financial affairs, and an independent probe by the Medical Education & Drugs Department (MEDD) into the approvals granted to the institutions in recent years.   Despite repeated attempts by  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ , top MCA officials like the Administrator or the Registrar Narayan Nawale, were not available for their comments.

Merger mirage fades

Mumbai: The brief window for a "Pawar Family Reunion" appears to have slammed shut. Any lingering hopes of merging the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following the tragic demise of Ajit Pawar have effectively evaporated in the last 24 hours. The emotional overtures of the past week have been replaced by a bitter political trench war, fueled by explosive allegations from Rohit Pawar, aggressive maneuvering in Parliament, and a decisive "stamp of approval" from New Delhi for Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.


The most damaging blow to the reconciliation efforts came not from the BJP, but from within the Sharad Pawar camp itself. Senior NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar has started raising doubts over the "accidental" nature of Ajit Pawar’s death. Rohit Pawar has been alluding to "unanswered questions" surrounding the plane crash. This narrative has infuriated the leadership of the Ajit Pawar faction, who view it as a politicization of a family tragedy and an indirect attack on the state’s security apparatus.


Sensing the volatility of his stance, Rohit Pawar abruptly postponed a scheduled press conference in Mumbai where he was expected to clarify the party’s position on the merger. "The postponement wasn't just logistical; it was strategic," says a political analyst. "By raising doubts about the accident, Rohit has burned the bridge. You cannot merge with a faction while implying they—or their allies—are covering up the truth about your uncle's death."


Simultaneously, the battle lines have hardened in New Delhi. In a move that signals zero intent of truce with the ruling NDA, at least three Members of Parliament from the NCP (SP) have signed a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.


This parliamentary aggression has effectively killed the merger from the BJP’s perspective. "The BJP was already wary of Sharad Pawar’s influence returning to their coalition," notes a senior NDA strategist. "Now, with NCP (SP) MPs actively trying to destabilize the Lok Sabha Speaker, the BJP will never allow the state unit to merge. They cannot have an ally in Maharashtra whose parent faction is waging war against them in Delhi."


While the opposition faction engaged in confrontation, the ruling faction solidified its legitimacy. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar undertook her first-ever "political" tour of the capital, holding high-profile meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.


The visuals of these meetings serve a dual purpose. It signals that the central leadership recognizes Sunetra Pawar not just as a grieving widow, but as the de facto leader of the NCP and a key NDA partner. Also, by hosting her, the BJP top brass has sent a message to the state units that the alliance with the Ajit Pawar faction stands firm, independent of the Sharad Pawar family drama.


Emerging from these meetings, NCP State President Sunil Tatkare delivered the final rebuff to the merger proponents. Addressing the media, Tatkare issued a stern "advice" to leaders from "other" parties—a clear reference to Sharad and Rohit Pawar—to stop interfering in the internal affairs of his party.


"We are capable of making the right decisions on our own," Tatkare asserted, effectively declaring that the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is an independent entity that does not require guidance or "mergers" from Baramati to survive.


The events of the last two days have clarified the political landscape. The NCP (SP) has chosen the path of aggressive opposition, using conspiracy theories and parliamentary procedure to attack the ruling coalition. In response, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has sought and received the protection of the BJP's central command. The "Merger" is no longer a possibility; it is now a closed chapter in the history of the Pawar clan.

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