Maharashtra Government Under Fire for Discounted Land Allocation to BJP Leader's Trust
State cabinet's decision to allocate ₹5 crore plot to Chandrashekhar Bawankule's Shri Mahalaxmi Jagdamba Sansthan at a reduced rate faces opposition backlash.
- The Maharashtra government allocated 5.04 hectares of land worth ₹5 crore to the Shri Mahalaxmi Jagdamba Sansthan for ₹1.46 crore, bypassing standard tender procedures.
- Opposition parties have accused the Mahayuti government of favoritism and labeled it as a 'land thief' for allotting valuable plots at discounted rates to entities close to the BJP.
- The Finance Department objected to the allocation, citing that the trust did not meet criteria for direct land allotment and lacked experience in higher and technical education.
- Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP state chief and chairman of the trust, defended the allocation, stating the land would be used for educational purposes and not for profit.
- The trust's secretary emphasized that the land would support the development of educational institutions aimed at benefiting rural students and fulfilling social causes.
Free Press Journal 
Hindustan Times 