Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The state cabinet meeting scheduled for Saturday is in the eye of the storm over the extravagant expenditures made for it in the drought-prone Marathwada region. The last cabinet meeting held in the region was in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2016.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said he would extend his stay to Saturday so that he can attend chief minister Eknath Shindes presser after the cabinet meeting. If the police do not stop me from reaching the venue, I will definitely go and attend the press conference of the chief minister. We also want to see how much the CM lies, said Raut on Friday morning. He said the then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, post the 2016 cabinet meeting held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, had announced development works and packages worth Rs 49,000 crore. I have been told that tomorrow the cabinet is announcing a package of Rs 40,000 crore. This is an illegitimate government and they do not have right to spend even a single rupee. If they actually want to do any work, they should fulfil the promises made in 2016. So much of unwanted money has been wasted on this cabinet meeting, said Raut. Officials said Rs 40 crore were spent on the preparations of the cabinet meeting, which is being clubbed with the Marathwada Liberation Day on Sunday. The state has deputed an additional director general of police (law and order) Sanjay Saxena to oversee the preparations. The police received over 70 applications seeking permission for holding protests. The permission has been granted for 15 marches, six sit-in agitations and for four delegations to meet the cabinet members. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole said the Eknath Devendra Ajit (EDA) government was extremely insensitive towards peoples and particularly, the farmers, sufferings. Due to the rainfall deficit, the farmers are facing extremely grim situation, resulting in increase in suicides. The CM and his cabinet members are being put up in a lavish five-star hotel in Sambhajinagar using taxpayers money. Spending lakhs on a cabinet meeting while citizens struggle with rising costs is like adding salt to the wounds of the people of Marathwada, Patole said.Legislative councils leader of opposition Ambadas Danve said, A caterer, who was recently raided by the enforcement directorate, has been given the contract to serve food costing Rs 1,500 per plate. The farmers are suffering and these people (the cabinet) are coming here for a picnic.He said that despite all the government offices having their guest houses in the city, all the star hotels have been booked. Echoing him, Raut also questioned why all the hotels were booked for accommodating just 40 ministers and handful officers. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said on Friday that the government has not done anything for the people, except for giving false assurances. The government will make many announcements for the Marathwada region but will they be implemented, said Thackeray, who is on a two-day visit to Aurangabad and Nashik districts.Marathwada Liberation Day marks the integration of Marathwada with India after security forces invaded Hyderabad and defeated the Nizam and his Razakar units on September 17, 1948.

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