Allegation of ‘Rate Card’ for Vidhan Bhavan Entry Triggers Political Storm; Chairman Orders Probe

Mumbai: A major political row erupted in the Maharashtra legislature on Thursday after an altercation broke out in the lobby of the Vidhan Bhavan between supporters of MLAs Jitendra Awhad and Gopichand Padalkar. The scuffle triggered a fierce uproar in both Houses, with the opposition making explosive allegations that visitor passes for the legislature were being sold for sums ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.

Taking serious cognisance of the issue, Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde ordered an impartial inquiry. “This is a disgraceful incident for both sides. A strict decision will be taken soon,” he declared, promising swift action.

Leader of the Opposition in the Council, Ambadas Danve, moved an adjournment motion under Rule 289 to condemn the incident. He alleged that persons with criminal backgrounds, including those booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), were gaining entry into the Vidhan Bhavan. “This is an insult to the parliamentary tradition. How can such elements be allowed inside?” he asked.

Member Shashikant Shinde also raised strong objections, claiming that entry passes were being openly sold at the gates despite previous orders to restrict them. “The Chairman had already directed that gate passes be stopped, yet they were freely distributed. A probe must find out who is behind this,” he demanded.

Ruling party MLA Pravin Darekar refuted the allegations, dismissing them as baseless. However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab took a direct swipe at the ruling side, warning, “We too know how these passes are being sold. Don’t provoke us into revealing more.”

Minister Shambhuraj Desai responded, stating that the management of entry passes falls under the jurisdiction of the Chairman. He urged Parab to produce evidence instead of casting aspersions on the entire system.

Members from across party lines flagged concerns about the security lapse, the growing influx of party workers into the premises, the presence of individuals with dubious backgrounds, and the alleged partiality of the police in handling the crowd.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil also condemned the incident, underlining the need to preserve the dignity of the legislature. “Such occurrences damage the credibility of this institution. We must ensure this does not happen again,” he said.

The incident and the allegations of a ‘rate card’ for Vidhan Bhavan entry have not only stirred political tempers but also cast a shadow on the integrity of the legislative process. Members from both the ruling and opposition camps have demanded a thorough investigation and stringent action against those responsible for compromising the security and decorum of the House.