In the lead-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), commonly known as NCP (SP), has launched a significant campaign against the ruling Mahayuti government.
This initiative, termed a "charge sheet," sheds light on critical issues plaguing the state, including the alleged breakdown of law and order and the concerning exodus of industries from Maharashtra.
Under the leadership of Sharad Pawar, the NCP (SP) has focused its campaign on ten vital areas that illustrate the economic and social challenges faced by the state. Among these issues are the decline in Maharashtra's economy, the shift of industries to neighbouring states, and growing concerns about women's safety.
Prominent party figures, including Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule and Maharashtra unit president Jayant Patil, led a march that began at the Mahatma Gandhi statue near Mantralaya and concluded at the statue of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. This event culminated in a procession to Hutatma Chowk in South Mumbai.
Patil emphasised the campaign's core message, stating, “We are launching the 'Hakk Magtoy Maharashtra' campaign across the state. We stand united to create a charge sheet against the Maharashtra government.”
The campaign seeks to resonate with the public through audio-visual outreach strategies, including advertisements and a new campaign song. The first advertisement specifically highlights the troubling rise in unemployment and the transfer of critical projects to Gujarat, drawing attention to the adverse impact on Maharashtra's economy.
In his remarks, Patil criticised the ruling coalition, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena, and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar. He accused these parties of undermining the foundational ideologies of Maharashtra’s revered leaders, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and social reformers like Jyotirao Phule and B.R. Ambedkar. According to Patil, the past decade has seen these parties weaken the social fabric and governance principles that once defined the state.
Patil also addressed the distress faced by farmers in Maharashtra, emphasising their struggle for fair prices for crops like soybeans, onions, and oranges. He noted that many farmers are waiting for drought relief and crop insurance, asserting that dairy farmers have particularly suffered under the current government's policies.
Furthermore, he pointed out that common citizens are grappling with rising inflation and soaring prices for essential commodities such as petrol, diesel, and LPG.
He lamented that, despite being a significant contributor to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) pool, Maharashtra has not received fair treatment in the Union Budget, especially compared to neighbouring states.
The NCP (SP) leader also expressed concern over the Mahayuti government’s dependence on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, suggesting that this indicates a looming change in governance after the elections.
Patil claimed, “Even as elections are being conducted in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, Shah is forced to camp in Mumbai, which suggests the seriousness of the crisis in the Maharashtra government.” He voiced confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition would emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.
The charge sheet presented by the NCP (SP) raises serious allegations about corruption, the decline of law and order, and the troubling trend of industries relocating from Maharashtra.
Patil underscored that different factions within the ruling coalition are preoccupied with their respective interests while ignoring the larger issues affecting the state's economy and security.
He stated, “The industrial legacy of the state from the days of Yashwantrao Chavan is being erased,” pointing to the concerning shift of projects away from Maharashtra.
In addition to these economic issues, Patil brought to light the alleged rise of gangs operating in the state and the proliferation of drug trafficking.
He criticised the government for its failure to address these serious safety concerns and for its corruption in the construction of a statue dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan. The recent collapse of this statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi last year, sparked significant outrage and highlighted the government's neglect.
The NCP (SP) is employing a variety of strategies to engage the public as part of its "Hakk Magtoy" campaign. These include a missed call initiative and the launch of a dedicated website designed to encourage citizen participation. In a sharp critique of the state government's decision to declare indigenous cows as "Rajyamata-Gomata," Patil accused the BJP of having financial ties with beef exporters, suggesting that electoral bonds are a means of masking these connections.
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