Going through the warmth over its “surprising” loss within the current Haryana Meeting polls and its dismal exhibiting in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress, which is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra, is leaving no stone unturned to wrest the necessary state from the BJP. Among the many star campaigners in Maharashtra is All India Congress Committee (AICC) common secretary (Organisation), Ok C Venugopal. In an interview with The Indian Specific, the Congress chief speaks concerning the MVA’s prospects in Maharashtra, the coalition’s technique and the position Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is more likely to play within the November 20 polls, amongst different points. Excerpts:
Following the losses in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, is the Congress on the backfoot in Maharashtra?
That is utterly baseless. Our marketing campaign has gone off fabulously in Maharashtra. We received probably the most variety of seats within the Lok Sabha polls (within the state) and there are huge crowds at each assembly. Our ensures are an enormous hit and our alliance (MVA) is working as a group. We’re set for a convincing victory. The Congress is forward and on the entrance foot. We had a superb outcome and strike price within the Lok Sabha polls, and Rahul ji’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra had nice influence.
Senior leaders have been deployed as observers in all of the areas and Lok Sabha seats whereas Meeting constituency observers have been on the bottom for the previous month.
The Congress and MVA trumped the BJP and Mahayuti within the Lok Sabha polls, successful 30 of the state’s 48 seats, largely driving on a marketing campaign that the BJP now refers to as ‘ultra-leftist and anarchist’… They declare the RSS has undone the injury.
This can be a ridiculous declare by the RSS and BJP, and reveals that the BJP has refused to be taught classes from its Lok Sabha setback. Persons are fed up with points and narratives solely designed to distract them. The Bharat Jodo Yatra was held to unite the nation and was essentially in opposition to the rules of the RSS and BJP. It was meant to lift points like unemployment and social justice, that are plaguing the frequent man. The individuals accepted and greeted the marketing campaign.
The politics of anarchy is the motto of the RSS and BJP, it fits them. However we’re on the appropriate path. The MVA goes in the appropriate route with the appropriate mission. We are going to win the polls.
You may have introduced populist / welfare schemes similar to the Mahayuti did after the Lok Sabha polls. Are such money incentives not a race to the underside?
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trolling us, however now he’s busy asserting the identical ensures. A day after we promised Rs 7,000 as Minimal Help Worth (MSP) for soyabean farmers, he promised Rs 6,000. Who’s copying whom?
Our guarantees are to not counter anybody however to strengthen the poor and marginalised. When the Central and state governments are laying out the purple carpet for the wealthy and highly effective, we’re standing by the poor. It’s clear that industrialist (Gautam) Adani is sponsoring the Mahayuti. We have now delivered the ensures in Karnataka and Telangana and ran a superb authorities when the MVA was in energy (between 2019 and 2022).
A piece of the Congress leaders imagine that the MVA ought to have named a CM candidate whereas the Shiv Sena (UBT) was eager that Uddhav Thackeray be named the alliance’s CM face. Why is the Congress not eager on projecting a CM face?
The MVA had determined to collectively zero in on the CM face after the outcomes. We comply with this observe in every single place so there’s not a lot to take a position at this level.
Does Jarange-Patil’s withdrawal profit the BJP? How do you propose to deal with the Maratha quota situation on condition that it’s entangled in a authorized battle?
Our slogan of (conducting) caste census and elevating the reservation cap past the prevailing 50% are clear solutions on the difficulty.
With regard to Jarange-Patil, we don’t see his withdrawal benefiting the BJP, whose concept of reservation is harming social justice. This election is a transparent MVA versus Mahayuti battle and the individuals know this.
Gandhi and the Congress allegations that the BJP would change the Structure if it received over 400 Lok Sabha seats could have had an influence in Maharashtra. On condition that it is a state election, do you assume that line of assault will work?
The problem of defending the Structure is critical in each election. Statements of BJP leaders attacking the Structure and the core tenets of this nation are alarming and threaten the values of democracy. The Structure is the only real protector of individuals’s rights, particularly these of Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, poor, girls and the marginalised. In Maharashtra, the individuals will give a befitting reply to those that oppose the values enshrined within the Structure. Wherever injustice happens, the Structure stays related.
The BJP, particularly Modi, has repeatedly claimed that the Congress’ ensures are hole and pretend whereas Karnataka Deputy CM D Ok Shivakumar’s remarks about free bus rides for girls have been lapped up by the BJP…
Is Modi prepared to just accept Kharge’s problem of visiting Karnataka and Telangana to see the supply of the ensures in these states? Modi is the one making hole guarantees on a regular basis. Our ensures are thoughtfully designed and economically viable and have been finalised after thorough discussions.
On prime of the a number of populist schemes, the MVA has introduced that it’s going to give a bonus to soyabean farmers along with procuring their produce at Rs 7,000 per quintal. Have you ever calculated the fiscal assets required for implementing these guarantees?
In 2021, soyabean costs rose to Rs 10,000 per quintal however have fallen so low that farmers are compelled to promote their produce at Rs 4,200 per quintal or lesser, which is far under the MSP of Rs 4,892. That is as a result of Modi authorities’s coverage of eradicating import duties. The Centre is working in opposition to the curiosity of farmers whereas we’re solely promising what’s their rightful due.
NCP chief Ajit Pawar stated lately — backtracking later — that Gautam Adani and Sharad Pawar attended a 2019 assembly between the BJP and (then undivided) NCP. Later, Sharad Pawar stated that the industrialist hosted the assembly however didn’t take part in it…
The revelation has uncovered the truth that Adani is controlling the state in addition to Central governments. It has additionally proved that Modi is working for Adani, some extent that Gandhi has been elevating.
However Sharad Pawar is a key ally of the Congress and a constituent of the INDIA bloc…
Sharad Pawar didn’t go away the MVA and continues to be part of it. The purpose here’s what roles does a businessman have in a dialogue between political events. It was Sharad Pawar who revealed that he was approached by this individual and the assembly was organized by him. The primary level right here is {that a} businessman, who has benefited quite a bit from this (Modi) authorities, is intervening in politics and making an attempt to deliver events nearer to the BJP.
We have now been saying for a very long time that the drive which controls the federal government, within the Centre or states, is Adani. It’s clear they tried to affect Sharad Pawar, however he rebuffed their presents. Then they tried utilizing Central businesses too. The Enforcement Directorate was despatched, however he has proven braveness.
On condition that Maharashtra has seen events splitting over the past 5 years, are you assured that the MVA will stay intact after the polls?
It’s the BJP that splits alliances and events. The events with us (Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP-SP) have suffered bitter experiences. They (the BJP) fashioned the federal government after splitting Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena and insulting Uddhav Thackeray, whereas Sharad Pawar’s celebration was cut up utilizing his personal nephew. Leaders like Sanjay Raut have been jailed. I’m certain after going by all this, these events (Congress allies) won’t ever have a change of coronary heart. Actually, it retains our coalition robust and intact.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which you head, had summoned SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch, however she skipped the assembly. The panel has now known as representatives of the Coal Ministry in reference to the rip-off involving Dewan Housing Finance Company on November 19. Has the PAC dropped plans to summon Buch?
To date, the PAC has not dropped any resolution taken on this regard.
It has been a month for the reason that Haryana outcomes and the celebration is but to call a CLP chief to perform because the Chief of the Opposition within the Meeting. Is the celebration wanting past Bhupinder Singh Hooda?
The process (to nominate the CLP) has been accomplished and a CLP assembly has additionally been convened. The CLP chief might be nominated quickly. You might be questioning a slight delay. Let me remind you that the BJP took 5 months (after the 2023 Meeting polls) to pick out their legislative chief in Karnataka.
