The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) is facing allegations of purchasing bus spare parts at rates up to 30% higher than standard contract prices after fresh rate contracts were delayed for several months. The ST Employees' Congress has demanded an independent inquiry, alleging that the delay resulted in crores of rupees in avoidable expenditure.

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Independent Probe Sought Into Local Purchases

The allegations were made by ST Employees' Congress General Secretary Shrirang Barge, who claimed that the corporation failed to finalise its regular rate contracts for procuring spare parts required for bus maintenance. As a result, divisional workshops, depots and central workshops have been relying on local purchases. While some materials were bought at reasonable prices, Barge alleged that several spare parts were procured at inflated rates. He has demanded a detailed investigation into purchases made over the past six months and strict action against officials found responsible.

MSRTC operates a fleet of 14,432 buses, of which around 13,000 are in daily passenger service. The corporation requires a steady supply of spare parts to keep the fleet operational. Normally, it finalises annual rate contracts through a competitive tender process to ensure uniform pricing and financial discipline. However, Barge alleged that no fresh contracts have been signed for the past eight to nine months.

According to the union, 14 suppliers had submitted bids worth over ₹55 crore nearly six months ago. Although the commercial bids were opened, the corporation allegedly failed to complete the process within the prescribed six-month period, causing the validity of the tenders to expire. The union claims the administrative delay has led to unnecessary financial losses and has urged the government to order an independent probe into the procurement process.

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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., criticized Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as "way out of touch" with Americans on Sunday after Fetterman recently accused him of showing no regret over endorsing scandal-plagued former Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner.

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Sanders responded by citing Fetterman’s standing among Pennsylvania Democrats, arguing that the senator was disconnected from voters on Israel and other issues.

"Well, my response to Fetterman is last time I saw it, he was reflecting the views of about 19% of the Democrats in the state of Pennsylvania," Sanders said on "Meet the Press."

"I think probably lower than any other member of the Democratic Senate. Fetterman does his thing, and I think, on Israel, and many other issues, is way out of touch with the people of America," Sanders said.

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Sanders appeared to be referencing a July Quinnipiac University survey that found 19% of Pennsylvania Democrats approved of Fetterman's job performance, while 69% disapproved. The same survey found that 77% of Republicans approved of Fetterman, although his overall approval rating among registered voters was 48%.

When reached for comment on Sanders' Sunday commentary, Fetterman’s office pointed Fox News Digital to remarks he shared with Semafor on Thursday in which he intensified his criticism of Sanders over the collapse of Platner’s campaign. The Pennsylvania Democrat accused Sanders of promoting Platner amid multiple controversies and scandals before the former candidate withdrew from Maine’s Senate race.

"You were the carnival barker for an accused rapist. You should have taken my advice, since you and P-Hustle blew up the Maine race," Fetterman said. "Take responsibility and apologize."

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"After you just blasted the Maine race apart, you are in Michigan replicating it," Fetterman said, referring to Sanders' support of progressive Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

The clash followed months of tension between the senators over Platner and the Democratic Party's approach to Israel. 

"Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker played a clip in which Fetterman accused Sanders of helping elevate Platner despite controversies surrounding the former candidate.

"I would be frustrated with someone like Bernie Sanders," Fetterman said. "You know, why, why aren’t people angry why they promoted, you know, someone like Platner, an accused rapist."

"So really, Bernie, you have no regret endorsing and proud to stand with an accused rapist, a guy that roughs-up his ex-girlfriends, a guy that had a Nazi tattoo on his chest."

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Fetterman previously demanded that Sanders apologize to Maine voters and everyone who donated to Platner's campaign. 

Sanders later called for Platner to leave the race after a former girlfriend accused him of rape, an allegation Platner denied.

Welker asked Sanders whether he regretted endorsing Platner before the allegation emerged. Sanders defended the campaign Platner ran, while acknowledging the seriousness of the accusation that prompted his withdrawal.

"Well, you know, it’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback," Sanders said. "Platner ran a very strong campaign and, in fact, many of the issues that he’s raised are resonating all over this country. A woman made very serious allegations against him, he withdrew from the race, period."

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