Leaders from major parties began touring most parts of Maharashtra
All the major political parties in Maharashtra – ruling aswell as opposition and even smaller groups – are slowly switching over to pollmode. The ensuing budget session of theCongress-NCP alliance government will be extremely important and is expected tobe people-oriented.
Once the budgets at the Centre and the state are tabled, thevisits by top political leaders across Maharashtra would increase.
Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls, theparties are consolidating its position, particularly in view of the fact thatthe State is facing its worst drought and scarcity like situation before theelection year, and there is resentment among the people.
Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thakeray recently addressed amammoth rally in Jalna, while his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena PresidentRaj Thackeray is also touring Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, in an important development last week, Uddhavsent out feelers for rapprochement to Raj – hinting at an alliance – but thelatter is yet to respond.
Political circles expect Raj to clear his stand during hisstate-wide tour.
Uddhav's statement came during an interview with SanjayRaut, the Executive Editor of Saamna, the party mouthpiece.
To a specific question by Raut, who is a Rajya Sabha memberand party spokesperson, whether “Uddhav and Raj would come together in future”,Uddhav said: “One cannot clap with a single hand...does it happen? You tellme.”
Asked what he would do if Raj approached him with a proposal(for an alliance), Uddhav said: "If someone is going to comewholeheartedly with Sena, I will welcome them."
Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde has said that it would bebetter if the Shiv Sena and MNS come together in form of an alliance.
Meanwhile, Munde, Leader of Opposition in the MaharashtraLegislative Assembly Eknath Khadse and his counterpart in Council Vinod Tawde,are also preparing for state wide tours.
Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athawale – who hasforged an alliance with the Shiv Sena and BJP, the grand 'shiv shakti-bhimshakti' grouping, has been projecting his contribution in securing theNTC-owned Indu Mill land from the Centre to the Maharashtra government for abuilding a grand memorial in memory of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chiefarchitect of Constitution.
As far as the Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party isconcerned, it has planned a series of campaign and tours in the times to come.They have also roped in former bureaucrat Uttam Khobragade in its fold.
The Democratic Front constituents – Congress and NCP – havebeen the first to get into poll mode. Both the parties have been trying topoach each other’s disgruntled leaders. Last month, senior NCP leader fromSindhudurg, Sandesh Parker has joined Congress. Congress leaders – includingChief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had visited several drought-affected areas inthe recent past. On Saturday, Chavan ordered the MMRDA to complete all majorprojects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region like the Mono Rail and Metro Rail byDecember 2013. Meanwhile, NCP leaders have started visiting thedrought-affected areas and have started providing relief to people.
On Sunday and Monday, NCP supremo and Union AgricultureMinister Sharad Pawar toured Marathwada, which is affected by drought, whileChavan is scheduled to visit the region on Tuesday.
