Help drought-affected, don't celebrate my birthday, Chavan to

Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan Saturday asked party workers to not celebrate his birthday Sunday and instead donate money for the party's relief programmes in solidarity with people affected by drought.

Chavan, a former chief minister of the state, said the misery of people he had met as part of the Congress' 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' had "shocked" him.

"Iunderstand that you wish to greet me on my birthday and join in celebrations. I am aware that annually you have celebrated my birthday in your own towns, districts and villages," he said while addressing a rally in his hometown Nanded as part of the yatra.

"However, I am part of the Jan Sangharsh Yatra in Marathwada and am shocked and hurt by the misery of people. In solidarity with drought-affected farmers across Maharashtra, I will abstain from celebrating my birthday Sunday," he said.

Lashing out at the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre and calling them "hopeless", Chavan asked Congress workers to donate money to the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee's drought-relief programmes.

He added that his hometown Nanded would lead the way in bringing down the BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state in 2019.

Hitting out at the government for unfair treatment of Marathwada, he said water was being diverted from Jayakwadi Dam and Upper Penganga project.

"The step-motherly treatment of Marathwada is shameful. Legislators across party lines have come together to demand equitable water sharing in Maharashtra," said Chavan.

On seat-sharing discussions with NCP, Chavan told PTI that talks were progressing smoothly.

"The Congress and the NCP will contest the 2019 elections together. Seat sharing talks are underway. Exact figures will be revealed once the exercise is complete," said Chavan.