Pune, Oct 13 The Opposition on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP ahead of the Maharashtra legislative council polls, with the Congress accusing the ruling party of luring voters with money and the NCP (SP) claiming that the activities of Shiv Sena and NCP MLAs are being monitored.
Biennial elections are scheduled for October 23 for five seats — three graduates and two teachers constituencies — in the 78-member Legislative Council. These are Pune Division Graduates, Nagpur Division Graduates, Pune Division Teachers, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates and Amravati Teachers constituencies.
Votes will be counted on October 27.
Registered graduates and teachers residing within the respective geographical divisions are eligible to vote in these elections.
Addressing a campaign rally for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) nominees in Pune, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that the BJP was attempting to buy voters by sending them money and called upon people to reject such practices.
Senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil said observers have been appointed in the areas represented by MLAs from the Mahayuti allies Shiv Sena and NCP.
“The objective is not to keep watch on the MLC election process but to keep watch on the activities of these MLAs of Shiv Sena and NCP, who are allies in Mahayuti,” he alleged at the rally.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar appealed to voters to elect Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav and Jayanti Asagaonkar, fielded by the Maha Vikas Aghadi from the Pune graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies, respectively.
In a virtual address, Pawar said Harshada Jadhav has worked in various fields, and she has a good public connect.
“I appeal to voters to elect her. I am confident that she will raise the issues of graduates effectively in the legislative council,” he added.
Sapkal accused the BJP of pursuing an authoritarian style of governance and using money to influence voters, while urging graduates and teachers to support the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates.
“The BJP is attempting to buy voters by sending them money,” he alleged.
He alleged that the government’s approach was driven by money power rather than public welfare, reiterating the Congress’s commitment to implementing the old pension scheme.
Appealing to voters to support the MVA candidates, he urged them to write the numeral ‘1’ against the candidate’s name on the ballot, saying it would help defeat the government’s arrogance.
(PTI News)
