Mumbai, Sept. 25 -- A few months before local body elections across Maharashtra, the Urban Development Department (UDD), headed by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, has distributed more than Rs.750 crore under two special schemes. These schemes give the urban development minister discretionary powers to allocate funds for basic amenities and special projects in the wards of urban local bodies, including municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats. The funds, meant for area development, have mostly gone to constituencies represented by MLAs from the ruling Mahayuti alliance, particularly those from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Allocations range from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.3 crore for various works, including footpath construction, sewage upgrades, community halls, beautification of libraries and gymnasiums, among others. In some cases, substantial amounts have also been sanctioned for repairing and constructing municipal council offices and Hindu crematoriums. The highest allocation-Rs.61.5 crore-has gone to Thane, where Shinde serves as guardian minister, as well as to various municipal councils in Satara, his hometown. In Mumbai too, constituencies held by Shiv Sena and BJP MLAs have received funds. Most of these constituencies were allocated around Rs.4 crore each. According to a BJP leader, while most of the UDD funds have gone to Shiv Sena leaders, BJP MLAs have also received a sizable share. "These funds are allocated based on the demands of the MLAs and are given to the concerned local bodies. However, they are often executed through contractors chosen by the elected representatives. Spending ahead of elections helps the leaders secure votes," the leader said. A Shiv Sena leader admitted that areas represented by opposition MLAs have received little to no share of these funds. Rais Shaikh, a Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East, criticised the state government for being biased in distributing funds. "Ideally, backward areas like Bhiwandi should get more money, but opposition leaders are not releasing any funds. The special funds meant for area development and basic amenities go to MLAs and corporators from the ruling parties," he said. Krishna Hegde, Shiv Sena spokesperson, said, "This has been happening since the time of Congress-led governments in the state. We allocate funds based on demands, and even opposition MLAs receive funds."...