Congress-NCP alliance reworks strategy for Maharashtra civic polls

The ruling Congress-NCP alliance in Maharashtra sees a major backlash in the wake of social activist Anna Hazare’s fast at Ramlila Maidan and the nationwide support for his demand for a Jan Lok Pal. The alliance, which has been under attack from opposition parties over three recent incidents of police firing and burgeoning corruption, feels Hazare’s movement has made their sailing tougher, especially ahead of the polls for 168 municipal councils, 12 municipal corporations and 33 zilla parishads, scheduled for November-February.

Against this backdrop, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who met senior ministers and party leaders in New Delhi on Wednesday, met state party chief Manikrao Thakre on Thursday and took stock of the situation. Curiously, despite ongoing rallies and meetings in support of Hazare across the state, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi visited Maval, which came into limelight after three farmers were killed in police firing last week. On the other hand, deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar made a flash visit to New Delhi and held crucial meetings with party boss and uncle Sharad Pawar on the emerging political developments in the state. The latter held a meeting with state unit chief Madhukar Pichad on Saturday to discuss the party’s preparations for the upcoming civic and local self-government elections, especially in wake of Hazare’s agitation.

A Congress minister, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard, “Hazare’s agitation could have been handled in a better manner by our senior ministers and leaders. Former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde could have been roped in to pacify an agitated Hazare. Besides, Hazare’s nephew Vinayak Deshmukh, who has recently joined Congress, could have played a key role in opening dialogue with Hazare. Now, state NGOs associated with Hazare are in touch with party leaders in Delhi. But, the real worry is the party will have to struggle a lot to maintain its supremacy in the local self-governments and improve its tally in the ensuing civic elections.”

He said the party was seriously perturbed over the involvement of a large number of youths in Hazare’s agitation. He added the party would have to seriously rethink its strategy to reach out to the masses for the coming elections.

Moreover, for NCP, the problems are many. The party is under attack for Ajit Pawar’s resolve to complete the piped water supply for Pimpri Chinchwad municipal area and his alleged involvement in corrupt deals, Further, home minister RR Patil is facing criticism within and outside the party circles for lack of control over the police machinery and the deteriorating law and order situation.

An NCP minister said, “It is a tough task for the party to face the coming civic and local self-government polls in the state. Its image has taken a severe beating, especially after the opposition parties succeeded in painting Ajit Pawar as a villain for the Maval firing incident. Hazare has always been firing salvos against NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other leaders, and, ahead of civic and local self-government polls, the party may be on Hazare’s radar.”

To add to it, the BJP, Shiv Sena and the Republican Party of India (Athavale) would gear up their united campaign against the “corrupt and anti-farmer” alliance. Incidentally, the trio has extended their support to Hazare and is expected to take its advantage in the coming polls.