When an oil lamp is about to completely burn out, it runs out of oil and then the wick starts to burn. Just as the wick starts to burn, the lamp becomes bright. After this, there is only smoke!
The Maharashtra Government of Eknath Shinde, which the Supreme Court called illegal but did not pull down, is now on its last leg. The oil has run out, therefore there is a slew of decisions that are being taken just to beat the model code-of-conduct that kicks in once elections are announced.
Taking cue from the success of Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s scheme in MP, of giving cash dole to women voters, Maharashtra Government too launched this scheme some time back.
The election declaration was pushed back to ensure that at least a few installments had hit the bank accounts of women and they could be swayed to vote for Eknath/Fadnavis/Pawar combine once the elections take place.
In a desperate move, the cabinet cleared 30 proposals yesterday in a single meeting. All these proposals are meant to bolster the chances of them winning the election.
These include;
- New Corporations set up in recent days number increased to 30.
- Economic Development Corporation for Jains.
- Another for Bari Community along with Teli, Hindu Khatik and Lonari Communities
- 1 Lakh for Cultural and educational institutions of Buddhist Community
- Household Subsidy under the Ramai Awas and Shabri Awas Yojana.
- Implementation of Sant Bhagwan Baba Sugar Cane Workers Accident Insurance Scheme
- Setting up of Maharashtra Ground Reservoir Fishermen Welfare Corporation with six posts and 50 Crore as one time grant.
The state already runs a debt of 7,00,000 Crores. The Finance department has shot down most proposals put up by the cabinet but it has been over ruled and doles announced.
As usual, the Election Commission is not going to take any action on these last minute announcements, which all are nothing but attempts to bribe the voter, an act illegal as per Representation of People’s Act under which elections are held.
Amit Shah and Narendra Modi have started coming to this crucial state ahead of the election. Narendra Modi, in fact, carried out the inauguration of Pune Metro for the fifth time a few days back!
Today, he is going to inaugurate a 12 Kilometer stretch of Mumbai Metro that runs from Aarey to Bandra Kurla Complex. That line is called the Aqua Line, which will eventually go all the way to Colaba at the south end of the island.
Meanwhile the existing line 7 and 2A are running in huge losses due to faulty planning.
Recently concluded Mumbai University Senate elections saw Aditya Thackeray led Yuva Sena sweep the polls with 10 out of 10 seats against BJP backed ABVP. Is that the shape of things to come? Only time will tell.
Many prominent commentators that track Maharashtra have given a 180-190 seat prediction in favor of MVA, the combine of Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Congress. Total seats in the assembly is 288 and 144 is the half way mark.
Based on Lok Sabha results, NCP (Ajit Pawar) faces a complete rout, while BJP is estimated to halve its seats from 105 to around 55. Shinde Sena with 38 MLA’s at the moment is also likely to have its tally reduced.
Based on the Lok Sabha election results, Congress is likely to emerge as the single largest party in the state in the INDIA combine. One just hopes that Congress leaders realize that the mandate is for betterment of the state and stem the flow of projects to Gujarat and the rampant promotion of Gujarati businessmen being done by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and don’t squabble among themselves.
In my opinion, the best bet for CM post is none other than Uddhav Thackeray. He has demonstrated his capability in the thirty months that he led the state, and proved that he is an able administrator and one who can run the state by taking everyone along. Also, he has the sympathy factor backing him.
It would be fatal for Congress to try and install its own CM even though it may be the largest party in the MVA combine (Maha Vikas Aghadi). Congress leaders should realize that it the leadership of Rahul Gandhi that has brought them to this stage of smelling success and should abide by what he does for the welfare of the state.
If MVA comes to power, it will once again demonstrate to the people that a coalition government with its pushes and pulls is better than a brute majority government of a particular party. People have experienced how Narendra Modi ran rough shod on everyone during the 2014-2019 and then 2019-2024 period just because he had the numbers. The 2024 General Elections delivered a sound kick to BJP and it now runs a NDA Government where Chandra Baba Naidu and Nitish Kumar are the two crutches that it has to depend on. That is why this tenures of Modi is unlike the earlier tenures.
Also, the possibility of defeat in J&K and Haryana will dampen any chances of BJP coming back to power. In fact, Amit Shah has told his party workers that this election will be with allies and the 2029 election will be BJP alone! Poor Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde must be wondering what will happen to them after they lose this 2024 election.
