Surrounded by controversy over her selfies taken in drought-hit Latur, Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde today skipped the state Cabinet meet, citing "heat stroke".


India Today reports that the Maharashtra Rural Development Minister has come under fire from ruling ally Shiv Sena and the opposition for clicking selfies during her visit to Marathwada. She took the selfies with the dried-up Manjara river as the backdrop while on a visit to the parched region to review desilting work on the river bed.


"Maharashtra is facing severe drought. Women and even kids are going far away from their home for getting water. And in such a serious situation, the ministers are clicking selfies," Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said.


"This could have been avoided. It lessens the impact of such tours. Entire Maharashtra is reeling under serious drought. There was no need of selfie. It is mainly women who are suffering carrying water and a woman takes selfies. It is strange," she added.

The BJP leader was also trolled on Twitter after her selfies went viral on social media.