CM Fadnavis photo on flood relief material strokes controversy

Mumbai: A day after state minister Girish Mahajan’s selfie controversy, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ pictures on the packets of flood relief material have sparked an uproar.

Apart from Mr Fadnavis, local BJP MLA Suresh Halvankar’s picture was also found on the food packets meant for flood victims.

The Opposition accused the BJP-led government of engaging in ‘self promotion’ while distributing relief to flood victims months before the state goes to polls.

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde posted images of the plastic bags containing rice and wheat bearing photographs of Mr Fadnavis and Mr Halvankar.

“What are the government’s priorities? Putting stickers! It (government) deliberately delayed the supply of food to the flood-affected for two days so that these stickers could be printed,” he said.

Reacting on this, chief minister Fadnavis admitted that it was wrong to print his and MLA’s pictures on the relief material and directed authorities to stop it immediately.

Mr Halvankar, who represents Ichalkaranji seat, said, “To avoid irregularities in the distribution of relief material in the relief camps, it was instructed to put up government stickers on food grain bags. I have asked the concerned authorities to stop putting stickers bearing my photographs.”