Cricket mania hits state assembly

Maharashtra legislators decide to keep their differences aside for a day, want to forgo post-lunch session to catch the Indo-Pak semi-final clash at Mohali


EVEN though two countries are ready to battle it out on the ground today during the Indo-Pak match, the match has brought two warring factions together.

Members of the state legislative assembly may bicker and argue over budget allocations, but they seem to be in agreement over the match and want to forego the post-lunch session of the assembly in order to watch the Men in Blue in action.

It seems that netas and politicos aren't immune to cricket fever and have decided to end the session early, so that they can sit back and watch the electrifying semi-final. However, no official announcement has been made so far.

Gripped by the excitement, some of the state's high-profile politicians including BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Supriya Sule are taking a flight out to watch the match at the PCA Stadium, Mohali.

"I am all set to watch the match at Mohali along with BJP leader Arun Jaitley. Chhagan Bhujbal and Supriya Sule are also expected in Mohali. I will be back to attend the session on Thursday," said Tawde.

Demand for tickets

However, it's not just an early session closing that netas want but with the finals of the cricket World Cup being played in their backyard, legislators also want tickets for the finals on April 2.

Members of state legislative council demanded that they get tickets for the finals being played at Wankhede, within a stone's throw distance from the Vidhan Bhavan, where the budget session of the state legislature is underway.

Congress MLC Subhash Chavan demanded that public representatives be provided with tickets or passes to the finals.

Agreeing with Chavan, Deputy Chairman of the House Vasant Dhavkhare said that the government should ensure that members of both Houses be provided passes. Dhavkhare pointed out that despite members raising the issue several times in the house, no action had been taken till date.

Minister of Sports Padmakar Walvi pointed out that the organisers were yet to provide any kind of passes to the government and said that if the deputy chairman made a direction then the government would make efforts to procure the passes for the public representatives.