Amid BJP’s victory in the Hindi heartland, the jubilant MahaYuti comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party is geared up to face the demoralized opposition comprising Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar led NCP during the winter session beginning Thursday in Nagpur. The MahaYuti is all set for a mega celebration and to take advantage of the present political situation to checkmate the opposition as it is decided to flag off the state government’s slew of initiatives to various sectors and especially to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2027-28.
On the other hand, even though, the opposition parties, which have yet to come out of the shock after BJP’s hattrick in the Hindi heartland, are determined to corner the MahaYuti government on the increasing farmers’ distress, rise in crimes, especially atrocities against women and children, deteriorating law and order and the state losing its pre-eminence in attracting investments.
The ongoing controversy over the Maratha-OBC reservation is expected to dominate the proceedings in and outside the state legislature as the pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has given the state government a deadline of December 24 to take a decision on the Maratha reservation. Jarange Patil is insisting that the government should provide Kunbi certificates to Maratha communities not restricted just to those who are from Marathwada region but across Maharashtra. However, a veteran OBC leader and food and civil supply minister Chhagan Bhujbal has opposed such a move saying that it would affect the present quota enjoyed by the OBC community in the state. It will be an acid test for the MahaYuti government to fulfil its promise without harming the social harmony in the state.
MahaYuti with a strength of 200 plus legislators in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has prepared a joint action plan to counter opposition on the issues raised by them. The MahaYuti will project its efforts to reach out to the people through its much debated Shashan Aplya Dari (government at your doorstep), increase in financial aid to the farmers affected by natural calamities, rise in health facilities and above all the government’s resolve to make Maharashtra a $ 1 trillion from the present level of $444 billion with a slew of necessary decisions. The ‘triple engine’ government will also pitch for a mandate in the coming Lok Sabha elections to win 45 of the 48 seats and 215 of the 288 seats in upcoming state assembly elections slated for next year.
Shinde, DCMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar will use every opportunity to ridicule the opposition for its attempts to corner the state government while exposing a lack of unity among themselves.
On the other hand, opposition leaders Vijay Wadettiwar, Ambadas Danve, and Jayant Patil announced that they will expose the government’s apathy towards farmers who are reeling under huge financial stress due to the lack of aid required following unseasonal rains. Besides, they will take on the government on the lapses in law and order situation as the recent National Crime Record Bureau report has painted a bleak picture for Maharashtra. In addition, they will grill the government on the Dharavi redevelopment project awarded to Adani Group especially after tweaking various policy decisions including changes in the transfer of development right (TDR). Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has already announced that he will lead a morcha on Adani Group office on December 16 demanding justice to the slum dwellers and small industrial units.
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