D. P. Sawant Explained

Dattatraya Sawant is a member of the 13th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. He represents the Nanded North Assembly Constituency. He belongs to the Indian National Congress.[1] He has been the Minister of State(MoS) for Higher and Technical education. He is considered to be a trusted associate of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.[2] He was Guardian Minister of Nanded District for years 2010-14.

Controversy

He has been the subject of controversy in relation to air travel expenses incurred by him as minister in October 2013 at the time when his government was in the middle of an austerity campaign.[3] In December, 2014, he was amongst 22 ex-ministers who hadn't vacated their official bungalows.[4]

On 22 March 2017, Sawant was suspended along with 18 other MLAs until 31 December for interrupting Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar during a state budget session and burning copies of the budget outside the assembly four days earlier.[5]

Also read

Notes and References

  1. News: Results of Maharashtra Assembly polls 2014 . India Today. 2015-07-17.
  2. News: Parties go looking for 'strong' nominees. Rizwanullah. Syed. 2014-09-27. Times of India. 17 July 2015.
  3. News: What austerity? Maharashtra ministers run up Rs 6 crore air fare bill. Iyer . Kavitha. 2013-10-18. First Post. 17 July 2015.
  4. News: 22 ex-ministers yet to vacate official bungalows. Nair. Shalini. 2014-11-03. The Indian Express. 17 July 2015.
  5. Web site: Maharashtra Assembly ruckus: Speaker suspends 19 MLAs till December 31. 22 March 2017.