Nowadays, there are rumours in corridors of politics in Maharashtra that state ruling BJP’s ministers are divided into many groups. One group is led by Cooperative and PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil who is in favour of “forget & forgive” policy towards scamster NCP leaders and its ex- ministers. As NCP’s existence ensures encountering Shiv Sena, but other group led by Eknath Khadse is of opinion that in next election it will be NCP who would pose challenge to BJP so this is the time to finish NCP and Pawars. BJP might have got majority of votes in 2014 but the fact is that NCP can emerge again with force as they have grassroot level leaders who can assure the comeback. Moreover, people are not very happy with the BJP government as there is a silent revolt against the government, and NCP should be shown its place at the right time. In future, they can be challenged to the existence of right wingers. Khadse lobby’s opinion is that government must take arduous steps. However, both groups are surprised about the decision CM Devendra Fadnavis stands for. Before elections, it was Fadnavis who opened the irrigation ministry corruption and he came to power. Immediately after the government formed, Modi met Pawar and everything was sorted out. The scam remained in files. He has maintained a mysterious silence meanwhile NCP ex-ministers are hopeful that Sharad Pawar would “manage” PM Modi. And nobody would actually go to jail. Kalyan – Dombivali elections may play a big role in strengthening or breaking the NCP further.
Meanwhile, state BJP leaders talk about Rahul Gandhi’s frequent tours abroad and criticise him for remaining absent at crucial political developments, but never focus on Uddhav Thackeray, who also does the same. There are many issues brewing in the state. There is Kalyan Dombivali Municipal corpo-ration (KDMC) election; Mumbai Mayor’s controversial statements; first anniversary of the Devendra Fadnavis government and bhoomi pujan of Dr. Ambedkar Memorial. However, we have not seen Uddhav’s involvement anywhere in these issues. Nowadays, we see that Uddhav only gets aggressive while attacking Modi and BJP. However, whenever Rahul Gandhi is in India, he remains active.
RSS cadre demands candidature quota in KDMC election but BJP’s problem is that majority of KDMC voters are known for their “weaknesses of succumbing to caste and money temptations”. RSS aspirants are typically Brahmins; men of character; financially middle class so – in today’s politics – no elective merit – sure are to be defeated by multimillionaire Congress; NCP; MNS; Shiv Sena candidates. In such crises, if BJP wants KDMC; it has to offer tickets to those candidates; who have money and muscle power equivalent to other party candidates. Even if RSS blue eyed boy CM Fadnavis wishes to favour RSS aspirants; then also he cannot do so as winning KDMC is prestige issue for BJP. He wanted to win this fort without an alliance with Shiv Sena. Interestingly, NCP and Sena both have stronghold on KDMC even MNS has its sharing. Right now, the scenario in KDMC election is all other parties versus BJP. So, this would be very challenging while dealing and distributing tickets.
To impress Kalyan-Dombivali residents, Fadnavis said Kalyan-Dombivali would be developed into a smart and safe city. The Centre’s funds for developing smart cities would be used to build state-of-the-art infrastructure complete with facilities resolving the problems of drinking water and other basic amenities in 27 villages in the periphery. However, people are not fools they are witnessing the condition of Mumbai. BJP has completely failed to fulfill the promises made by it. Fadnavis said that they have taken up the development of Kalyan-Dombivali on priority basis and it has also been approved under the smart cities project undertaken by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. There would be no paucity of funds for development, which is BJP’s highest priority.
The Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corpo-ration (KDMC) polls for 122 seats will determine the political might of the BJP which was voted to power in Maharashtra on October 31, 2014. At present, the KDMC is controlled by the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. However, the BJP and the Shiv Sena are still non-committal on an alliance for the corporation elections. Whereas, the Congress-NCP is making renewed attempts to strike an alliance to take on the divided BJP and Sena in the local bodies’ elections. If the BJP fails to strike an alliance with the Sena, it would be a bitter fight within the saffron allies. The saffron party has elicited support from smaller non-Congress-NCP and non-Sena groups to consolidate its position in the region.
