Half a dozen top leaders of Maharashtra get Covid-19 infection

Half a dozen top Maharashtra leaders have tested Covid-19 positive in the last couple of days including Eknath Khadse and Bacchu Kadu, who have got the infection for the second time.

Those who had tested positive include state NCP president and water resources and command area development minister Jayant Patil, state health minister Rajesh Tope, food and drug administration minister Dr Rajendra Singne, minister of state for labour and Prahar Janshakti founder Bacchu Kadu, senior NCP leader Eknath Khadse and his daughter-in-law and BJP MP from Raver Raksha Khadse.

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Meanwhile, state Congress president and former speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Nana Patole is in self-isolation after two of his staff members tested positive for the infection.

On the other hand, state home minister Anil Deshmukh is in-home quarantine in Nagpur after recovering from a bout of Covid-19.

Kadu is from Achalpur in Amravati and is the guardian minister of Akola, both of which are among the affected districts.

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Khadse had tested positive in November last year and recovered. During the last week of December and the first week of February, he suffered from Covid-19 like symptoms and was in-home quarantine. Now he has tested positive again.

Meanwhile, the budget session of the Maharashtra legislature is set to commence on 1 March. The budget would be tabled on 8 March. On 25 March, a meeting would be convened to decide on the duration depending on the situation.

Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar has urged the Centre and the State government to ensure priority to legislators and Vidhan Bhavan staff.

“We have 287 MLAs now while 60-plus MLCs. Besides, we have 700 to 800 people who work in the Vidhan Bhavan complex. Plus, officials from Mantralaya, who set up camp offices in the complex during the session,” he said.