Challenges galore for Maharashtra CM

Baiters are bent on his ouster ahead of assembly polls

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is facing a host of challenges after the Congress received a drubbing in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls.

Even though the Congress has ruled out the possibility of Chavan’s resignation, the latter faces the huge task of further increasing co-ordination between the government and the party organisation, especially after a rift between him and state unit party chief Manikrao Thakre and party in-charge for Maharashtra Mohan Prakash surfaced during the campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls.

Further, party insiders admit that Chavan, who is going to lead the party for the coming Assembly polls, will have to go the extra mile to remove the disconnect between the party and the people. Chavan will also have to pay more attention on maintaining proper co-ordination with the Congress’ ruling partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to jointly take on Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena-led Maha Yuti grand alliance, which is eager to ride on the “Modi Wave” during the Assembly elections.

“There are only 100 days left for the Assembly elections. There is very little time. The Congress in Maharashtra will have to effectively market positive works such as monorail, metro rail, toll-free eastern freeway and financial aid given to farmers after unseasonal rains. We need to concentrate more on our traditional constituencies, where we have trailed behind,” MPCC spokesperson Anant Gadgil told Business Standard.  He suggested the loyalists, who are currently neglected in decision-making, be given due prominence.

On the other hand, a senior party general secretary, who did not want to be named, opined that Chavan's “Mr Clean” image had failed to create magic. Further, Chavan’s recent moves to politically counter the NCP in connection with a number of corruption cases, had gone against the ruling alliance. It had helped the opposition to gain mileage. “Chavan should first decide who the Congress’ rivals are and redraft its poll strategy. Besides, he should assert himself in the distribution of tickets to new faces,” he said.

 Moreover, during the ongoing district-wise review of the party's worst performance in general elections,  Chavan and the state Congress party unit came under attack for the neglect of loyalists, youth, women and the vibrant middle class. Besides, members of the district units attributed the party's humiliating defeat largely to the wrong selection of nominees, intra-party feuds and anti-party activities by a section of party members.

A former minister argued the Congress’ taking the support of Dalits, OBCs and Muslims for granted was a big mistake.

This apart, some party members made a  strong plea for a complete overhaul of the organisation while a few insisted that the Chavan-led government should not waste further time in the implementation of pro-people, pro-farmer and pro-development decisions to counter the Modi wave. This was very necessary as party members said the Congress-NCP combine was trailing behind in a record 234 Assembly constituencies.

Challenges Ahead

*Prithviraj Chavan needs to expedite decision making

*Step up efforts for coordination between government and party organization

*Keep ruling partner NCP in good humour for united fight against Maha Yuti