All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala has been tenting within the state for months, shaping the social gathering’s technique and coordinating with its Maha Vikas (Aghadi) alliance. In an interview, Chennithala talks about why Maharashtra shouldn’t be Haryana, if the “save the Structure” narrative will have an effect within the Meeting polls, and direct contests with the BJP.
The Lok Sabha verdict gave the Congress some hope and causes to cheer. However after the Haryana upset and the poor efficiency in Jammu, how is Maharashtra searching for the Congress and the alliance?
The conditions in Haryana and Maharashtra are completely different. Within the parliamentary elections, we (MVA) received 31 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra. The Congress emerged because the primary social gathering. Points are completely different, methods are completely different, and the best way individuals assume is completely different. On the similar time, we learnt quite a lot of classes from Haryana. That I agree. That’s the reason we systematically labored to make sure the withdrawal of 80% of the rebels. We ensured whole unity within the social gathering. There are not any variations of opinion among the many senior leaders and employees. There may be absolute unity among the many MVA companions.
Seat sharing and all the things was achieved amicably. All of us are working in tandem. A harmonious scenario is prevailing within the MVA. Even small events like CPM, CPI, PWP (Peasants and Employees Social gathering) and SP have been accommodated correctly within the given scenario. So there isn’t any downside within the Congress or the alliance, in contrast to in Haryana.
However there are nonetheless some pleasant fights.
We’re not going to permit any pleasant combat within the MVA. We’ve suspended all of the rebels who haven’t withdrawn from the race. We’re not going to permit a Sangli experiment once more.
One main motive for the success of the Congress and the MVA within the Lok Sabha elections was the consolidation of Dalit votes in your favour. The Opposition’s ‘save the Structure’ narrative maybe had some traction. Will such a difficulty have relevance in state elections?
That hazard is there even now. The BJP needs to vary the Fundamental Construction of the Structure. Take a look at the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal. For that, the state elections are essential. Until and till the BJP will get a majority within the Rajya Sabha, they can not move such contentious proposals. So, if extra MLAs are with the BJP, they’ll elect extra Rajya Sabha MPs they usually can change the Structure by securing a majority within the Rajya Sabha. The individuals are conscious of all this. And, Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Samvidhan Sammelans’ have given the proper path to all sections of the individuals, notably Dalits and the backwards (OBCs).
However, are such points related in a state election?
There may be some relevance. There are additionally so many state points. Agrarian unrest, unemployment, worth rise, and backwardness of sure areas in addition to extreme injury to onion, soybean, and cotton farmers attributable to the Cemtre’s import-export coverage. The opposite main concern is Gujarat taking away all the foremost initiatives and investments from Maharashtra.
Why didn’t the Congress or the MVA ally with Prakash Ambedkar’s VBA? Gained’t his social gathering pose issues for the alliance?
Prakash Ambedkar is a B Workforce of the BJP. Within the Lok Sabha elections, we tried (to have an understanding with him). I spoke to him a number of instances. However he didn’t facet with us. He’s all the time serving to the BJP and the individuals know that. That’s the reason he couldn’t get any seats. The presence of Mallikarjun Kharge (who can communicate fluent Marathi) in Maharashtra can be serving to us unite Dalits behind the MVA.
The Congress criticised the Enkath Shinde authorities when it introduced the Ladki Bahin Yojana, arguing it might pose a pressure on the price range. Now, the MVA has promised a number of sops. The place will you discover the assets?
GDP progress has come down due to this authorities. Concerning the ensures, we had achieved an in depth examine, on public finance and the fiscal scenario of Maharashtra. We’ve made a plan to lift extra revenues by numerous sources and we will definitely discover the assets. We’ve a transparent plan for implementing these programmes.
The Congress and the BJP are locked in a direct contest in 72 seats, 36 of them in Vidarbha alone. What’s your technique to tackle the BJP?
The combat is between the Congress and the BJP in Vidarbha and Marathwada. We’re going to win there in a giant method. We’ve a plan. Farmers’ concern is a very powerful factor in each areas. Cotton, onion, and soybean farmers are in misery. The biggest variety of farmer suicides occurred in these areas. The Centre didn’t maintain this facet. The Centre’s import-export coverage has broken Maharashtra farmers in a giant method. So, they may always remember this. Vidarbha has been a Congress bastion for lengthy. It grew to become clear within the Lok Sabha elections as effectively. We really feel that we are going to carry out effectively in these areas.
Why is the Congress not eager on the MVA projecting a CM face?
The Congress by no means proclaims a CM candidate. We won’t try this even when the Congress is combating the election alone. After the elections, we are going to sit down and we are going to elect the chief.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is claimed to be eager concerning the alliance projecting Uddhav Thackeray because the CM face now.
We’ve spoken to them and informed them that that is our technique. Everyone agreed.
If the MVA wins, will the following CM be from the social gathering that has the most important variety of seats?
That we are going to resolve solely after the elections.
There may be a lot heartburn within the Mumbai Congress. The social gathering is contesting in solely 11 of the 36 seats.
It occurs. Once we are in an alliance, you are taking extra seats in areas the place you might be sturdy, your alliance associate will take extra seats in areas the place they’re sturdy. In Vidarbha, the Shiv Sena (UBT) obtained solely 9 seats. It occurs. We want to have a harmonious scenario among the many coalition companions. Take a look at the Mahayuti. The BJP is giving seats to Eknath Shinde’s social gathering and in addition candidates. They’ve pressured the Shinde social gathering to discipline BJP leaders as candidates on its image. This has by no means occurred within the coalition system in India. You might be giving seats in addition to candidates. The BJP is swallowing up its companions.
Had been you stunned that Sharad Pawar managed to get 87 seats for his social gathering, punching above its weight?
We needed to have a harmonious scenario within the coalition. We didn’t need pointless issues. We needed unity among the many companions in order that the alliance regarded credible. The BJP, alternatively, has nearly completed off Ajit Pawar and Shinde. It’s maintaining them round just for now and can eliminate them after the elections. Union Residence Minister Amit Shah has mentioned that the BJP will contest alone in 2029.
How assured are you concerning the MVA’s possibilities?
We’re very hopeful that the individuals of Maharashtra will vote for change. Corruption within the state authorities is a very powerful narrative now. The individuals of Maharashtra have rejected the BJP’s machinations of splitting events and flattening a authorities. They really feel regardless of the BJP did in Maharashtra within the final 5 years was unethical and in opposition to political morality. The BJP did achieved the identical in Karnataka and the individuals of that state punished it. Likewise, this authorities may even be ousted.
