Congress plans grand function to celebrate Shahu Maharaj Jayanti upon learning about the BSP function
Congress plans grand function to celebrate Shahu Maharaj Jayanti upon learning about the BSP function
The Congress seems to be in the process of learning a few hard lessons in politics. The most recent one is how to go one up against one's rivals when celebrating the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj on June 26.
Mayawati at the inauguration of the BSP office in Chembur on Saturday.
PIC/ ATUL KAMBLE
Earlier celebrations were simple functions, which included garlanding the royal king's frame at the party office at Dadar. However, this year, the state unit of the Congress has had to change their plans after they learnt about the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) function on Sunday at Goregaon (East), where Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati will also address a statewide convention of the party workers.
The first Maharaja of the Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj was known as the pioneer of the reservation system for lower castes, particularly the Scheduled Castes (SCs). His birth anniversary is also known as Social Justice Day.
Considering the political consequences of not having a bigger event than the BSP, Congress leaders have roped in chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Manikrao Thakre for the function, which will be held on Sunday at YB Chavan centre.
To make the celebrations even bigger, the function organised by the Mumbai Congress, headed by Kripashankar Singh, at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi will be merged with the one happening at the Chavan Centre.
Manikrao Thakre, who was on tour of Vidarbha, was specially flown down to address a press conference on Saturday regarding the celebrations.
The BSP has painted the city walls with "Chhatrapati Shahu tera adhoora sapna, BSP karegi pura" (BSP will fulfil Chhatrapati Shahu's dream). The Congress, which enjoys backing of majority of SC and ST votes has anyways been treading cautiously ever since the formation of Shivshakti-Bhimshakti the grand alliance between Shiv Sena, BJP and the Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India.
Soon after the saffron combine's announcement of the grand alliance, the Congress decided to celebrate the year as social equality year. The NCP, an alliance partner of Congress in the Democratic Front Government, organised a state level conference, where a charter of demands for the SCs and STs was announced.
The Congress and NCP have always tried to derive political mileage by referring to the great social reformers Rajarshi Shahu, Mahatma Phule and Dr B R Ambedkar and banking on the votes of the SCs, STs and OBCs.
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