Raju Shetty's Swabhimani joins NDA vying for win in sugar belt

Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghatana, led by Lok Sabha member Raju Shetty, today joined the NDA fold led by Shiv Sena and BJP, boosting the saffron combine's hope of penetrating the sugar belt in western Maharashtra which remains unchallenged bastion of the ruling Congress-NCP combine.
With the new entrant; which holds a considerable sway on farmers; joining the NDA combine, the development is viewed as a morale-booster for the "Mahayuti" (grand alliance) comprising Shiv Sena, BJP and RPI (A).
The development is also considered a setback for the plans of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had been reportedly toying with using the Shetty-led organisation's clout in rural areas of the state, specially in western Maharashtra.

BJP leader Gopinath Munde, who played an important role in fostering the alliance, told reporters that Shetty had discussed probable alliance with AAP before the Delhi Assembly polls, but backed out as the Arvind Kejriwal-led party formed government on Congress support.
"With AAP forming government with Congress' help, Shetty drew towards us as he is opposed to Congress policies," he said.
Reacting to Shetty's decision, AAP leader Mayank Gandhi said, "Shetty was apparently pressurising the Sena-BJP-RPI alliance by indicating that he was in parleys with us. We do not subscribe to such tactics."

Munde expressed hope that Sena-BJP combine, which never won in Solapur-Kolhapur sugar belt dominated by sugar co-operatives and led by NCP and Congress, could open an account there in forthcoming elections with the Sanghatna on board.

The Sanghatana's decision came after a meeting between the MP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, BJP leader Gopinath Munde and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, at Uddhav's residence in suburban Bandra today.
On terms of alliance, Munde said his party has accepted Shetty's demands on implementation of recommendations of Swaminathan Committee, Rangrajan Committee and on setting up of a famine commission.
"...Centre has accepted only the sugar de-control recommendation of the Rangrajan committee," he said.