Mudslinging Continues from Both Sides
Can Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party part ways? That is a question on the mind of everyone watching Maharashtra politics. As the war of words intensifies between two coalition partners, the situation is fast heading towards a five cornered fight in the ensuing Legislature elections four months later.
Congress today came in with hard words towards NCP. It asked NCP to introspect on whether its senior leaders had worked for or against Congress candidates recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in the state. Manikrao Thakre, state chief of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC)has sent a letter to the NCP president R R Patil. He has asked in the letter that air of confusion between the two coalition partners must be cleared first. This came as a response to some harsh comments from NCP leaders in the state.
Issue arose over the some candidates. For example, in Mumbai North Central, NCP leader Nawab Malik was instrumental in putting up the candidature of Bhaijan on BSP ticket against Congress candidate Priya Dutt. Home Minister Jayant Patil had allegedly backed Congress rebel Ajit Ghorpade against party nominee Prateek Patil in Sangli. Tribal Development Minister Vijaykumar Gavit had put up his brother on Samajwadi party ticket against Congress candidate Manikrao Gavit in Nandurbar whereas Ajit Pawar had stayed away from Suresh Kalmadi's campaign in Pune.
The debate has flared up after chief minister Ashok Chavan, gave ultimatum to cabinet minister for Non-Conventional Energy Vinay Kore to quit the government for supporting candidates of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, party led by Raj Thackerey. Since MNS is perceived as a party dividing citizens between Maharashtrians and North Indians, Congress can never have an truck with it. There was also one more reason. Jan Surajya Party, led by Kore fielded two candidates in Marathwada for Lok Sabha elections. These candidates were fielded in Nanded and Latur, two constituencies represented by current and ex-chief ministers.
This strategy was seen as ploy by leaders of western Maharashtra to undermine the leadership of Marathwada. After Chavan's ultimatum, Kore had dared him by saying that Jansurajya Party was free to take any decision as there was no policy decision taken by Congress-NCP and alliance front government in Maharashtra for the ongoing general polls. Jan Surajya Party had supported Raj Thackeray-led MNS South Mumbai Lok Sabha candidate Bala Nandgaonkar.
Kore had even said that the ministership was given to him through NCP quota. Hence any decision about his ministership was to be made by NCP president Sharad Pawar and state party president R R Patil.
In the just concluded meeting of district Congress chiefs, NCP came under fire for not co-operating with the candidates of Congress. They district chiefs even advocated fiercely going solo for the Legislature elections. That has reallyl put the Ten year old alliance into jeopardy. The dynamics of the alliance are such that no leader from either side wants to continue it. It was some smart bargaining on the part of Sharad Pawar, which forced Congress leadership in the center to forge an alliance with the broke away party.
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