'Defeat those who spoiled cultured politics of Maharashtra by breaking parties'

With just four days to go for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 Nationalist Congress Party SP chief Sharad Pawar has urged voters to reject those responsible for spoiling the statersquos political culture by undermining parties and families and sowing division within societyIn a public appeal published in Marathi newspapers on Saturday the veteran politician said Maharashtrarsquos pride and glory must be restored urgently According to news agency PTI Pawar raised several issues that he believes will shape the outcome of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 which will be declared on November 23 when votes will be counted These included concerns over the sustainability of welfare schemes rising crime against women increasing distress among farmers and dwindling employment opportunitiesThe ruling Mahayuti alliance comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister CM Eknath Shinde and NCP under Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is in a tight contest with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA which includes Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Congress and the NCP led by Sharad PawarPawar accused the Mahayuti government of enabling corruption and criticised the Shinde governmentrsquos decision to waive tolls for vehicles entering Mumbai The real question is about the tolls corruption in government offices When will this stop Official bungalows near the state secretariat have become hubs for corruption he alleged further claiming that the ruling coalition leaders were responsible for engaging in communal and castebased politics while the state faces a deteriorating lawandorder situation rising unemployment and worsening farm distress owing to inadequate crop pricesldquoMaharashtra is a cultured progressive strong and selfrespecting state It has not only shown the way to the nation but has stood by it during times of crisis However the current rulers have become pawns in the hands of Delhirdquo Pawar remarkedAccording to PTI the NCP SP chief also accused the Mahayuti leaders of disrespecting the statersquos icons citing the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in August and criticising the derogatory remarks made by an official about the marriage of social reformers Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule ldquoA person holding a constitutional position made derogatory comments about the married life of Savitribai and Jyotiba Phule The corruption led to the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs statue in Sindhudurgrdquo Pawar saidPeople will stand with MVA in Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024Speaking to reporters in Satara the former CM predicted that the people of Maharashtra would bring about a change in government The people want change and they will bring it They will stand with the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA he assertedAccording to PTI the 83yearold politician renowned for his keen political instincts noted that the atmosphere in the state reminded him of the 2019 elections when people though silent reacted strongly at the ballot boxPawar also downplayed the potential impact of the welfare schemes announced by the ruling coalition He pointed out that after the BJPled governmentrsquos poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections they had introduced cash transfer schemes to make people happy However Pawar questioned their longterm sustainability stating ldquoThey havenrsquot provided clarity on how long these schemes will last For example the Rs 1500 monthly aid to 2 crore women under the lsquoLadki Bahinrsquo scheme might make them happy but despite this expenditure it wonrsquot have much impact on the Mahayutirsquos electoral prospectsrdquoPawar highlighted a stark contradiction between the ruling governmentrsquos claims and the reality on the ground particularly with regard to the rising crime rate In the last two years 67000 cases of violence against women were registered and around 64000 women and girls have gone missing in the state including in Nagpur which is home to the statersquos Home Minister Devendra Fadnavisrdquo he claimed ldquoThe governments claims of caring for women fall flat when they fail to protect them This contradiction will affect the electoral outcome he addedThe former Union Agriculture Minister also drew attention to the struggles of Maharashtrarsquos farmers who face increasing risks to their crops ldquoSoybean and cotton crucial crops in some regions are facing major challenges Farmers are frustrated by high input costs which have driven some to despair and suiciderdquo Pawar saidUnemployment was another pressing issue according to Pawar ldquoWhile the number of educational institutions has increased job opportunities are dwindling Young people are struggling to find employment and the lack of opportunities is creating frustration Our job is to highlight these issues while the government misuses its powerrdquo he concludedWith PTI inputs