Now, ministers fight over office space

A Congress minister, on Monday, refused to vacate his office for a party colleague, who was allotted the space based on his seniority in the government.

A Congress minister, on Monday, refused to vacate his office for a party colleague, who was allotted the space based on his seniority in the government.

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Forest minister Patangrao Kadam stayed put in room no 25 on the ground floor of the Vidhan Bhavan, even as the legislature administration had allotted the office to social justice minister Shivajirao Moghe.

The social justice department staff had set up the office for their minister over the weekend.

Moghe had to occupy his old office on the first floor, despite being the seniormost Congress cabinet minister.

According to the procedure, senior ministers are allotted offices on the ground floor, and the circular on the placement is issued to all ministerial offices in advance.

Some junior ministers are housed in the fourth floor of the building. When not in session, the ministers work from the Mantralaya building.

Playing down the incident, Moghe said, “We had an arrangement between us. Patangrao [Kadam] told me that he liked the office where he had been sitting for so long. I have no issues with him.” Kadam could not be reached for comment.