Maharashtra heading for mid-term polls?

Sharad Pawar

Two major leaders on Saturday hinted that there could be mid-term Assembly polls in the state. While Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar told his party workers that they would soon get an opportunity to change the government, former CM Uddhav Thackeray was more direct. Thackeray asked his rank to be ready for the polls considering the announcements Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started making for Maharashtra.

PM Modi on Thursday had announced nearly 225 projects for Maharashtra at a total estimated cost of Rs 2 lakh crore. On Friday, NCP leader Ajit Pawar had said that attempts were being made by the ruling parties to poach party legislators. Soon after the development, ailing party president Sharad Pawar, who was in hospital, decided to attend the party's convention in Shirdi. Accompanied by a couple of doctors, he took a chopper from Mahalaxmi Race Course to the convention on Saturday. Ajit's absence at the event, however, raised eyebrows.

Pawar addressed the party delegates for a few minutes, but later asked senior leader Dilip Walse Patil to read out his speech. "I cannot speak for long today. I came here because the party workers wanted me to be here. Doctors have asked me to rest for 10-15 days. I may start working after resting. I will speak then," he said. He told workers that they had come from across the state and were vested with power to change the government in Maharashtra. "I hope you will get that opportunity soon," he said, while indicating early polls.

Also Read: Uddhav asks party workers to be ready for mid-term polls in Maharashtra

Meanwhile, during a press meet on Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray said that the Shinde Sena-BJP government had failed to save several projects, which ultimately went to other states. "Now they have announced projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore. Where are these projects coming from? It seems mid-term elections are on the cards."

Manish Kayande, Sena spokesperson, said that Thackeray also addressed district coordinators at Shiv Sena Bhavan, where he indicated the possibility of mid-term Assembly polls in Maharashtra. "It is the BJP's practice to make big announcements to woo voters. We have seen that in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat," said another spokesperson Arvind Sawant.

Shinde Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske said that Thackeray was only trying to hold on to the remaining party MLAs, MPs and workers. Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar echoed his views, saying this was an attempt to prevent defections.

What happened at Shinde-Pawar meeting

CM Eknath Shinde had visited the hospital where Pawar had been admitted on Friday. The courtesy visit was politicised by a NCP legislator Amol Mitkari, who said there was something political and a sign of future equations. Shinde Sena spokesperson Rahul Londhe dismissed the observation saying that at least the NCP leaders should avoid making such statements. "The idea is Mitkari's brain child. The meeting was only a humane gesture by the head of the state."