Mumbai, Oct 29 Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday described Opposition MVA’s victory in three of the five Legislative Council seats as a sign of political change, saying the re-election of his party colleague Abhijeet Wanjari from Nagpur was particularly significant.
Talking to reporters in Karjat near here, he said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had made election to the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency a prestige issue and used his political influence to persuade candidates to withdraw their nominations and put pressure on opponents.
Despite the BJP’s efforts, sitting Congress MLC Wanjari was re-elected from Nagpur, the “home turf” of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the MPCC president said, adding the result was a historic victory for his party and a rejection of the saffron outfit and the RSS by the electorate.
In a nail-biting contest, Wanjari defeated his closest rival of the BJP by 3,271 votes to retain the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency.
Sapkal criticised Fadnavis over a tweet that was subsequently deleted, saying the chief minister should maintain the dignity of his office.
The deletion, he claimed, was an embarrassment for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reflected the Congress’s ability to challenge the BJP leadership politically.
On reports of differences within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which consists of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, Sapkal said its constituents were blaming one another for the council election results, but would eventually come together to retain power and negotiate their share of positions.
“Who becomes the chief minister and who gets the finance portfolio is for them to decide. Maharashtra is not interested in their internal tussle for power,” he said, urging the government to fulfil its promises, including increasing the monthly assistance under the Ladki Bahin Yojana from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 and waiving farm loans completely.
With the state facing drought, Sapkal demanded a compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare for farmers and complete loan waiver for them.
He criticised the ruling coalition over remarks concerning farmer suicides, alleging the government’s insensitivity and failure to address agrarian distress had contributed to the crisis.
Referring to the just concluded Legislative Council elections, Sapkal expressed concern over alleged distribution of cash and ‘paithani’ sarees to influence voters in some constituencies.
Such practices were a threat to democracy and required serious introspection, he stated.
Sapkal accused the Centre and the state government of making unfulfilled promises on environmental protection while pursuing major projects, describing their announcements as “jumlas” (rhetoric).
The Congress, he said, remained committed to defending the Constitution and democratic rights.
Of the five graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies of the council which went to the polls on October 23, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won three, while the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance bagged two.
(PTI News)
