Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) president Sharad Pawar has issued a stern warning to the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, pledging that the opposition will not rest until the current government is dislodged from power within the next two months. Pawar made these remarks on Sunday while addressing party workers at Ghatkopar in Mumbai.
Pawar’s declaration comes in the wake of the collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan tehsil, Sindhudurg district, on August 26. The incident has sparked outrage across the state, with the opposition targeting the Mahayuti alliance, which comprises the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, for what they describe as “corruption” and “insult” to the revered Maratha warrior king.
Pawar accused the current state government of lacking faith in Shivaji Maharaj and criticized the quality of the statue’s construction.
“How does a statue collapse? This means the quality of the statue deteriorated. Shivaji had never been insulted the way he was under this government,” Pawar said, questioning the integrity of the processes involved in the statue’s construction.
Although he acknowledged allegations of corruption, he admitted that he had no concrete evidence to support these claims.
The NCP (SP) chief also expressed skepticism about the government’s plans to construct a new statue, arguing that it would not undo the damage already caused. “The government says a new statue will be constructed, but what about the damage that was done?” he asked.
Earlier in the day, Pawar joined the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in a protest march from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India, denouncing the statue’s collapse and the government’s response. The MVA, an opposition bloc comprising the NCP (SP), Congress, and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, has united in its criticism of the ruling coalition.
As the state gears up for the upcoming elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, likely to be held in October or November, Pawar’s remarks signal a growing intensity in the political battle. He called on party workers to remain united in their efforts to bring about a change in the state government, one that he promised would be based on the ideals of Shivaji Maharaj and would safeguard the interests of the people.
Pawar also took the opportunity to criticize the Central government’s lateral entry scheme, which has recently sparked a political row. He warned that the current leadership would not protect the interests of the people, further intensifying his attack on those in power.
With tensions running high, Maharashtra is set to witness a fierce electoral battle in the coming months.
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