15 October,2023 09:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sharad Pawar/PTI
On Sunday, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar asserted that the BJP's political prowess is diminishing across the nation, primarily due to its alleged misuse of power. Speaking at a gathering of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) office-bearers in Mumbai, he contended that individuals are not inclined to support political entities or leaders aligning themselves with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which exhibits a nationwide presence, stated a PTI report.
Pawar underscored, "The populace of this country does not align with those seeking alliances with the BJP. This sentiment transcends the entire nation. A glance at the national map reveals that the BJP does not govern a single state in South India."
It's noteworthy that Sharad Pawar's nephew and prominent NCP figure, Ajit Pawar, became a part of the Shiv Sena-BJP administration in July this year, along with eight MLAs. Ajit maintains that he has the backing of a majority of NCP legislators and has staked a claim to the party's name and electoral symbol.
Sharad Pawar, an instrumental figure in forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) following the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, suggested that the BJP ascended to power in the state by splitting from the Shiv Sena. He posited that a similar strategy was applied in Goa and Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress held power until the government collapsed in March 2020, the report further stated.
Reportedly, Pawar further noted that the BJP solely retained power in Gujarat during the 2022 polls. He stated, "The BJP does not govern in Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal. Excluding Uttar Pradesh and a couple of other states, the BJP's political influence is diminishing in other regions of the country."
He contended that the political landscape would become more evident after the elections, emphasizing that the BJP's loss of power results from the purported misuse of authority. Pawar stressed that a coalition of like-minded parties, known as INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), has been formed to oppose the BJP's alleged misuse of power, the PTI report read.
Pawar also criticised the Maharashtra government's plan to contractually hire 3,000 security personnel for the Mumbai police, a practice he deemed unprecedented for the home department. Additionally, he expressed his disapproval of proposals to merge schools with fewer than 20 students with institutions having larger enrolments and to entrust some state-run schools to private companies for management. He cited an example where an alcohol manufacturer had adopted a school in Nashik district and arranged a performance by dancer Gautami Patil for the students, raising concerns about the message conveyed by such events.
