Maharashtra polls – TheNewsHub

Did Congress distribute ‘blank’ copies of Constitution at Rahul Gandhi's event? BJP takes jibe

Aseem — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:07:13 +0000

With Maharashtra gearing up for the assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the Congress party distributed blank copies of the Constitution at an event led by Rahul Gandhi in Nagpur, reported India Today.

According to details, the event’s theme in Nagpur was protecting and upholding the Constitution.

The Maharashtra BJP even posted a video on social media showing the books with the ‘Constitution of India’ written on the front. However, they contained only blank pages except for the preamble on the first page. The video has gone viral on social media.

“Congress wants to erase the Constitution of India like this. All laws written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar are to be deleted. That is why Rahul Gandhi had predicted that reservation would be cancelled in the interim.

“Remember, respected Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and his constitution is not an election issue but the foundation of life of India and Indians. So the people will teach a lesson to the anti-constitutional Congress,” the Maharashtra BJP tweeted.

Fadnavis hits out at Rahul Gandhi:

Apart from the blank pages row, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit out at Rahul Gandhi for holding a ‘red book’, which he suggested indicated an inclination towards ‘urban Naxals and anarchists’.

“My allegations made two days back against Rahul Gandhi have proved true about his inclination towards ‘urban Naxals’. He showed the red book and tried seeking help (politically) from urban Naxals and anarchists,” India Today quoted Fadnavis as saying.

“Rahul Gandhi indulges in such drama regularly. He, on a daily basis, insults the Constitution in some or other way,” he added.

Congress replies:

The Maharashtra Congress hit back at the BJP accusing the party of peddling a false narrative. Congress said that the saffron party wants to do away with the Constitution.

“The whole of India knows that BJP and RSS are the enemies of the real constitution, no matter how much they try to spread a false narrative by putting the cover of the Constitution on a blank book,” it said in a post on X.

“BJP’s strategy is to end the Constitution by making false accusations against those who saved the Constitution. But under the leadership of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Constitution-loving people of the country will never allow this cunning plan of BJP to succeed,” the party added.

Earlier on Wednesday, at the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Nagpur, Rahul Gandhi held a slim copy of the Constitution with a red cover and slammed the BJP and RSS for attacking the Constitution and thereby attacking the ‘voice of the country’.

He even repeated his call for a nationwide caste census and said that the exercise would take place after his party ‘will break the wall of 50 per cent’ reservation limit.

I would say ‘absolute majority’ for the Mahayuti: Sunil Tatkare

Aseem — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:57:06 +0000

In a wide-ranging interview with Frontline, Sunil Tatkare, the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) Maharashtra unit chief and a close confidant of Deputy Chief Minister and party leader Ajit Pawar, forecasts a dramatic reversal of his alliance’s fortunes in the upcoming Assembly election. Despite the Mahayuti’s (as the National Democratic Alliance is known in Maharashtra) disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha election, where the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance secured only 17 seats compared to the rival Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) 31, Tatkare argues that key government initiatives and shifting political narratives have transformed Maharashtra’s electoral landscape.

The veteran politician, who defected from Sharad Pawar’s camp, dismisses concerns about Maratha reservations and industrial exodus while expressing confidence in securing an “absolute majority” through improved vote transfer between alliance partners and strategic regional consolidation. His optimism, however, will soon be tested as Maharashtra prepares for a crucial electoral battle that pits former allies against each other, most notably in Baramati’s high-stakes “Pawar versus Pawar” contest. Excerpts:

How do you view Maharashtra’s current political situation? Your alliance, the Mahayuti, won only 17 seats in the Lok Sabha election, while the MVA secured 31 seats. What has changed in these four months?

The situation has changed drastically, and I say this with conviction. During the parliamentary election, several factors worked against the NDA in Maharashtra. However, since then, various initiatives have transformed the State’s political atmosphere: the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, infrastructure projects, agricultural programmes, electricity subsidies for farmers, and other policy decisions. I’m confident we’ll retain power in Maharashtra.

You are confident about retaining power, but what about the Maratha reservation issue? Earlier, there was talk about Maratha leader Manoj Jarange-Patil withdrawing from the election. How do you assess the situation, particularly in your party’s strongholds of Western Maharashtra and Marathwada?

I prefer not to comment specifically on the Maratha reservation issue or Mr Manoj Jarange-Patil’s political stance. However, I can say that the overall situation has improved significantly across all regions—Vidarbha, Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, Konkan, and Mumbai—compared to the parliamentary election.

So you do not expect the Maratha issue to have as severe an impact on the Assembly election as it did in the parliamentary election?

That’s correct. Many developments have occurred since the parliamentary election. In Assembly elections, voters consider both party alignment and each MLA’s development work in their constituency. Under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s leadership, MLAs from all parties—BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena—have performed exceptionally well in their constituencies. While there might be some anti-incumbency sentiment, development work generally yields positive electoral results. Furthermore, the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana has garnered support from 60-70 per cent of women across party lines.

‘Absolute Majority for Mahayuti’-Sunil Tatkare Exclusive Interview | Maharashtra Politics 2024

NCP’s Maharashtra chief predicts a major political shift in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. He discusses issues such as Maratha reservations, Mumbai’s growth, farmer welfare, and changing political alliances.
| Video Credit:
Interview by Amey Tirodkar

You are saying the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana will be a game-changer?

Absolutely, it is a game-changer.

The difference between your alliance and the MVA in the Lok Sabha was just 6,00,000 votes—about 1.5 per cent. You believe this single scheme can overcome that gap?

The political narrative has shifted significantly. During the parliamentary election, the MVA campaign focuSsed on “saving the Constitution” nationwide and in Maharashtra. That narrative has now lost its relevance for the State election. Our recent Jan Samman Yatra with Ajit Pawar has received an overwhelming response across Maharashtra.

I’ve seen this change firsthand—in my own parliamentary constituency, where I won despite unfavourable predictions, the atmosphere is markedly different now. During the parliamentary election, every survey predicted my defeat, yet I won by a margin of 82,000 votes. The political climate has transformed considerably since then.

Also Read | During Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure, many had to leave Mumbai–he needs to answer for that: Ashish Shelar

Let us discuss something that Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar acknowledged: three issues that hurt the Mahayuti during the Lok Sabha election were the prices of cotton, soybean, and onion. Have you successfully addressed these concerns?

Yes, we’ve definitely addressed these issues. The export ban has been lifted, and onion prices have improved significantly for farmers. For soybean, the government’s procurement at minimum support prices is underway. In just four months, the situation has changed—farmers are now busy with their agricultural produce and are satisfied with the State government’s decisions, supported by the Central government. The issues that the MVA previously highlighted have largely subsided.

Turning to another issue: MVA opposition leaders frequently criticise what they call an industrial exodus to Gujarat, claiming major projects are leaving Maharashtra. How do you respond to this criticism?

This is entirely a false narrative created by the MVA. Statistics show Maharashtra leads in industrial investment, including foreign investment and domestic industrial development. Take the B1 port project—it will be the country’s leading port after JNPT [Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Nhava Sheva near Mumbai], creating over 1,00,000 direct and indirect jobs. The infrastructure projects undertaken by the Mahayuti government have transformed Maharashtra significantly. Like their “Save Constitution” campaign, this is another baseless narrative when the reality shows continued investment and ongoing projects in Maharashtra.

There is persistent criticism that Mumbai’s importance is being diminished under BJP rule, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, given their Gujarat background. How do you respond to this, considering Mumbai’s significant 60 seats (36 in Mumbai city and 24 in the suburbs)?

I completely disagree with that assessment. Look at the infrastructure development in Mumbai over the last two and a half years: the Atal Setu, the Coastal Road, and significant changes across the city. The Metro’s first and second phases, which were stalled during the MVA government, are now operational. How can anyone blame Modi and Shah when the Central government has approved all these projects—the Atal Setu, coastal highway, and Metro? They’ve supported Mumbai’s development. This is just another false narrative.

“I can tell you with confidence that our strike rate will be the highest in Maharashtra. We may be contesting around 55-56 seats, but we’ll make them count.”

Talking about politics: your party split from Sharad Pawar, joined the government, and is now in alliance with others. There was talk of contesting 80 seats, but now you are down to around 55. Do you feel shortchanged in this alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement?

In any alliance, seat adjustments are natural. In Mahayuti, the BJP has about 115 seats (105 plus 10 through allies), Shinde’s group has 40 plus their allies, and we have 43 seats with some additional arrangements. There were clear limitations on seat distribution.

So you are comfortable with the reduced number of seats?

I can tell you with confidence that our strike rate will be the highest in Maharashtra. We may be contesting around 55-56 seats, but we’ll make them count.

There are concerns about rebels from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena opposing your candidates. How do you view this situation?

This affects only one or two constituencies, and some rebels have already withdrawn their candidature. Similar situations exist in both alliances: the MVA has parallel candidates with Sharad Pawar’s and Uddhav Thackeray’s symbols, as well as Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates. These challenges aren’t unique to us.

During the Lok Sabha election, your alliance faced criticism about vote transfer issues between partners—BJP to NCP, NCP to BJP, and NCP to Shiv Sena. Have you addressed this concern?

Yes, we’ve worked on this extensively over the last four months. After thorough discussions, we’ve made significant improvements. You’ll see a different picture this time.

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, in Mumbai on October 19, 2023. Tatkare believes that he did not expect the issue to have as severe an impact on the Assembly election as it did in the 2024 parliamentary election.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

You are confident about this for the Assembly election, despite having more rebels?

Look, I’ll share my personal experience. I succeeded in getting BJP votes, which was previously considered impossible. While I’ve traditionally relied on Shiv Sena votes, I also managed to secure support through Eknath Shinde’s influence—though not 100 per cent.

The Baramati contest—Pawar versus Pawar—will be a crucial battle. How do you see it playing out?

It will be one-sided. People’s sentiments are clear this time.

What about Pune district?

We’ll perform better than before. We’re contesting in rural areas, including Bhor, where we had a presence when the NCP was united. We expect to improve upon our 2009 performance in the Pune district.

Also Read | My focus for the election is jobs: Aaditya Thackeray

Western Maharashtra has traditionally been your party’s stronghold. How do you see its political landscape evolving?

The situation in Western Maharashtra is very different from the last parliamentary election. Take the example of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj’s election in Kolhapur.

Can you elaborate on what happened with Shahu Maharaj? He’s currently the MP.

Yes, but consider today’s developments. His daughter-in-law received the official Congress candidature. Look at Satish Patil’s reaction—I’ve known him for 20 years, and I’ve never seen him so disturbed. He wasn’t even informed about the withdrawal of the former Congress official candidate. This shows the internal discord.

So these political manoeuvres will help you in the election?

It’s not about manoeuvres—it’s about the situation itself. The Congress is facing internal conflicts in every constituency. While there are some concerns in Baramati, there are other significant developments, like Harshwardhan Patil joining the NCP, and recent changes in Indapur. These shifts are meaningful.

Out of your [NCP’s] 51 seats, what is your prediction?

We’ll achieve the highest strike rate in the NCP’s history.

Finally, where do you see Mahayuti landing, given you currently have 225 MLAs with a clear majority?

With a clear-cut majority: an absolute majority for the Mahayuti.

‘Balasaheb would have broken his…’: CM Shinde, BJP slam Arvind Sawant over ‘imported maal’ remark on Shaina NC

Aseem — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 04:47:12 +0000

Tensions within Maharashtra’s political landscape escalated over derogatory comments made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant, targeting Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena party leader Shaina NC. Arvind Sawant referred to Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC as “imported maal.” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have both publicly condemned the remarks, demanding accountability and respect for women in politics.

Kirit Somaiya Calls for Arvind Sawant’s Apology

On Saturday, Kirit Somaiya did not hold back in his criticism of Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, urging them to reflect on their language. Speaking to ANI, he stated, “Uddhav Thackeray Sena uses a word like ‘maal’ for a woman candidate, Shaina NC. They should feel ashamed. Uddhav Thackeray should apologise to the nation.”

Somaiya’s remarks highlight a growing concern about the treatment of women in political discourse, particularly in the context of an upcoming election.

CM Eknath Shinde Weighs In

Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, echoed Somaiya’s sentiments, declaring Sawant’s comments as “unfortunate.” He suggested that if Balasaheb Thackeray, the late founder of the Shiv Sena, were alive, he would have strongly condemned such remarks.

“It’s very unfortunate. Speaking ill of a woman is highly condemnable, and no amount of criticism is enough,” Shinde asserted. He added that actions like Sawant’s expose the true character of the party, stating, “If Balasaheb were alive, he would have strongly condemned and would have broken his mouth.”

Arvind Sawant’s ‘Imported Maal’ Remark Row

The uproar began when Arvind Sawant referred to Shaina NC as “imported maal,” implying that outsiders do not belong in Maharashtra’s political scene. He said, “Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life and now she went to another party. Imported ‘maal’ doesn’t work here; only original ‘maal’ does.”

In response to the comments, Shaina NC filed a complaint at the Nagpada Police Station, asserting her right to challenge derogatory remarks against her. “FIR has been registered regarding outraging the modesty of a woman and defamation as he has used a derogatory remark. The law will take its course,” she stated, emphasising her commitment to justice.

Arvind Sawant Defends Himself Amid Backlash

Facing significant backlash, Sawant attempted to clarify his comments, claiming he did not mention Shaina NC by name. “I never mentioned her name. I only said that someone who is an outsider will not be able to work here. It’s their habit to create uproar,” he said.

He also defended his respect for women, insisting, “I have always respected women and accused my opponents of trying to tarnish my reputation.” Sawant portrayed Shaina NC as a friend, stating, “Shaina NC is my friend, she has worked for me, and I respect her.”

Maharashtra Elections 2024

With the Maharashtra Assembly election approaching on November 20, political tensions are running high. Both major parties are gearing up for a battle, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.

Ajit Pawar dismisses Mahayuti rift, clarifies on leaving Cabinet meet early: ‘I had to…'

Aseem — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 08:27:04 +0000

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday, October 12, sought to clarify the reports of a rift between the Mahayuti alliance – which comprises Ajit Pawar’s NCP, the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena – and speculation over his leaving the state Cabinet meeting early, saying “all is well.”

Ajit Pawar’s early departure sparked speculation about a potential rift within the Mahayuti alliance, just as Maharashtra prepares for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Ajit Pawar said he left the Cabinet meeting early as he left the Cabinet meeting early to attend a scheduled programme at Ahmedpur. Speaking at a press conference after inducting actor Sayaji Shinde in the NCP, Ajit Pawar said, “I had to leave early to attend a scheduled programme at Ahmedpur in Marathwada region.”

“All is well and speculation about any dispute in the state cabinet meeting is baseless,” Ajit Pawar said. “Too much is being read into it,” the deputy chief minister added.

Ajit Pawar was also non-committal about whether he would contest from the Baramati Assembly seat, saying the decision will be taken after seat-sharing is finalized. “All the cabinet decisions taken yesterday have my approval,” he added.

Notably, his wife Sunetra Pawar was defeated by his estranged cousin and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction leader Supriya Sule from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat this year. Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar says breaking family was a mistake: ‘Society never accepts…’

MAHAYUTI SEAT-SHARING FOR MAHARASHTRA POLLS

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Friday that the ruling alliance will finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections within the next three days.

The term of the current assembly ends on November 26.

“We will discuss the seats and then the (BJP) central parliamentary board will meet on October 13. Talks on 90 per cent seats have been completed. The remaining 10 per cent will be completed in the next three days,” Bawankule told reporters.

Maharashtra Elections: Big boost to Ajit Pawar's NCP ahead of polls as actor Sayaji Shinde joins party

Aseem — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:29:27 +0000

Indian actor Sayaji Shinde joined Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday. The addition of the famous actor is likely to benefit the party in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

Sayaji Shinde has been featured in several Bollywood and Tollywood films. After joining the party, Shinde mentioned that he had never planned to join politics but had always been impressed with NCP’s Ajit Pawar’s strategies. The Indian film industry’s actor had earlier praised the Maharashtra government’s Ladki-Bahin scheme.

“I never thought I would join politics. My decision may also be a shock for many. If I have gone to Mantralaya for 25 times, at least 15 times I met Ajit Pawar. I have liked the strategies of the NCP-Ajit Pawar,” said the actor after joining the party.

Sayaji Shinde joined the political party in the presence of Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, working president of the party Praful Patel, and state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare.

Maharashtra deputy CM Pawar welcomed Sayaji Shinde into the political party and announced him as the star campaigner of the NCP during the upcoming state assembly elections. “Shinde will be given due respect in the party,” PTI quoted Ajit Pawar as saying.

“We feel proud that he is being associated with us. Shinde is also a social activist,” said NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal while welcoming the actor into the party.

Sayaji Shinde is a versatile actor whose work is not limited to any specific language. He has worked in films in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, and Telugu.

Need to be a part of the system to work more effectively, says Shinde

The 65-year-old Shinde applauded Ajit Pawar’s style of functioning and said joining politics would help him work more effectively. “I was impressed by Ajit Pawar’s style of functioning,” the actor said, adding that he interacted with Pawar when working for his favourite cause of tree plantation.

Sayaji Shinde was born in Maharashtra’s Satara district and started his career in Marathi theatre. He achieved his first milestone in the Bollywood industry when he played the role of an antagonist in Hindi film “Shool” released in 1999. Apart from acting in several Marathi and Hindi movies, Sayaji Shinde has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English, Gujarati and Bhojpuri films.

In addition to being a versatile actor, Shinde is also a social activist who has also worked for spreading awareness related to environment protection.