BJP risks more defeats if it doesn't take action on farmer suicides: Shiv Sena

Says BJP's humiliating defeat in zilla parishad polls a wake up call

The Shiv Sena today warned the BJP that unless it takes corrective measures, it will face a tough time retaining power in Maharashtra. 

Shiv Sena, which is BJP's ruling partner in the state, in its mouth piece Saamana targeted chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying the government has taken no action on restructuing or issuing new loans to farmers hit by natural calamities. It added that farmer sucides have risen and crossed 1,000 mark in a year.

"It is a serious matter that about 10 farmers committed suicide when Fadnavis was in the US. The government is unable to instill confidence among the crisis-ridden farmers and provide much need relief,'' the Shiv Sena said.

Referring to the BJP's rout in Bhandara and Gondia zilla parishads by Congress and NCP, Shiv Sena said it was a matter of serious concern for the BJP, especially when the party had won a record 44 assembly seats last year. 

"Victory of Congress and NCP is certainly not a good sign. If the voters, who whole heartedly voted for a change in the assembly election, have changed their mind in just eight months to cast their votes for Congress and NCP, it is matter of serious concern. BJP cannot pass the buck on Congress and NCP for using money power for their victory. Victory is not achieved only on money power,'' the party said.

Shiv Sena said if corrective measures are not taken immediately, the party may go Bhandara and Gondia way in the Vidarbha region too.

Shiv Sena's latest jibe comes days after it criticised the BJP for the various scams that have surfaced in the state, including the alleged involvement of senior ministers Vinod Tawde, Pankaja Munde and Babanrao Lonikar. 

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had said that charges against Munde in the Rs 206-crore chikki scam were quite serious.

Furthermore, Uddhav on Sunday targeted BJP and said corruption was visible everywhere despite the change in the Central and state government.