Pankaja Munde tops absentee ministers list

The new government headed by Devendra Fadnavis also faces absenteeism of its ministers from the important cabinet meetings.  Barring CM Devendra Fadnavis and water supply Minister Babanrao Lonikar who have attended all cabinet meetings rest all do not have a 100% track record. Leading the list of Minister's in remaining absent from meetings is the Rural & Women Child welfare Minister Pankaja Munde, followed by Eknath Shinde, Dr Deepak Sawant, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Rajkumar Badole constituting the top 5. This information was provided to RTI activist Anil Galgali by chief Secretary office. RTI activist Anil Galgali had filed a RTI query with the chief Secretary office seeking details of the total number of cabinet meetings held by the state government and the attendance of ministers.  The Under Secretary and the public information officer Shri N B Khedekar informed Galgali that, since 11 December 2014 to  23 June 2015 a total of 28 cabinet meetings were held. Prior to this 8 meetings were held in the period when the complete ministry was not constituted. Out of the 18 ministers Barring CM Fadnavis and Lonikar rest 16 ministers have been absent in some or other cabinet meetings. Pankaja Munde remained absent in 9 out of the 28 cabinet meetings, PWD minister Eknath Shinde was absent in 7, Health minister Dr Deepak Sawant was absent in 6, Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in 5, Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole in 5, Housing minister Prakash Mehta in 4, Environment minister Ramdas Kadam in 4, Higher and technical minister Vinod Tawde in 3, Revenue minister Eknath Khadse in 3,  Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule  in 3. Anil Galgali further sought to know if any advisory was given by the CM Fadnavis to  curb the absenteeism, to which the CS office replied in negative stating it has no record of the same. Galgali also queried if there is any rule for removal of the minister for remaining continuously absent from the cabinet meeting to which he was informed that no such rule is in existence. The cabinet meetings are held for important issues to properly govern the state and hence it is important that the Minister's attend all the meetings expressed Anil Galgali.