State Congress chief Nana Patole declared on Sunday that Rahul Gandhi’s five guarantees for people across various sectors would be “a game changer” in the Nov 20 assembly elections, helping the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in reclaiming power from the “illegal and corrupt” Mahayuti government led by Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde with support from BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP’s Ajit Pawar. Patole also announced plans to release a white paper on the state’s economy. In an interview with TOI following the launch of the MVA’s manifesto, he spoke at length on his party and its allies’ campaign strategy and the anticipated outcome of the polls.
Q: What will be the result of the Maharashtra assembly polls?
A: Our performance in the Lok Sabha election was impressive. Congress contested 17 seats and won 13. In fact, our party set a record for winning such a large percentage of seats. In the ensuing assembly elections, I am sure our performance will be better than all the previous elections. In my opinion, MVA will win 175 to 180 seats and will form the new government. MVA is fighting the elections unitedly.
Q: If MVA secures a clear majority, who will be CM?
A: There is no dispute on the new CM. The AICC high command will decide on the new CM. It will be through consensus.
Q: Your priorities in govt?
A: Since there is a financial crisis, we will come out with a white paper on the state’s economy. We found that the state’s debt burden has crossed all limits owing to unprecedented cost escalation. We will probe all contracts given in the last six months.
Q: What will be the impact of the five guarantees?
A: The scheme is the brainchild of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. All the schemes have been successfully implemented in Congress-ruled Telangana and Karnataka. Since these states are not facing a resource crunch, in Maharashtra too, we will implement them in letter and spirit.
Q: What according to you are the challenges?
A: I feel the biggest challenge is deteriorating law and order. Another is restoring the state’s glory. Crime has gone up; women and children are not safe despite the tall claims of deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the home minister. We will have to take stringent measures to restore the confidence of people from all walks of life. We will have to focus on farmers’ woes too. Maharashtra has witnessed the suicide of many farmers owing to the Mahayuti govt’s failure to tackle the agrarian crisis. We are keen that farmers are made debt-free in a time-bound period. Our loan waiver scheme will help farmers in a big way.
Q: According to reports, several prime industries have been shifted to the neighbouring Gujarat…
A: It’s a matter of concern. Under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, industry worth Rs 10 lakh crore from Maharashtra have been shifted to Gujarat. In the entire process, Maharashtra has lost 10 lakh jobs.
Q: NCP leader Nawab Malik is contesting the assembly elections…
A: It’s a challenge for Devendra Fadnavis, who opposed him. BJP had alleged his links with underworld don Dawood. It appears to be ‘power jihad’. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is part of Mahayuti, led by Eknath Shinde, and Fadnavis had declared that BJP will not campaign for Malik. Still he is contesting. Prima facie, it appears that it is all for power, and so, ‘power jihad’.
Courtesy : TOI
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