Maharashtra polls: Direct Ajit's party to use new symbol, Pawar senior to SC

The Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party NCP moved the Supreme Court seeking direction that the faction headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar apply for a new symbol for contesting the upcoming Maharashtra pollsMeanwhile ahead of the Maharashtra polls Sharad Pawars party has launched a campaign to address what it describes as the failures of the current Mahayuti government On Wednesday October 2 party leaders presented a charge sheet outlining the concerns related to the states economic decline the plight of industries and the breakdown of law and order news agency PTI reportedThe campaign titled Hakk Magtoy Maharashtra State is demanding its rights was spearheaded by Lok Sabha member and Sharad Pawars daughter Supriya Sule and Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil The leaders marched from the Mahatma Gandhi statue near Mantralaya to the statue of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri before proceeding to Hutatma Chowk in south MumbaiWe are united in creating a charge sheet against the Maharashtra government Patil stated The partys campaign will feature an audiovisual outreach including advertisements and a new song with the first advertisement highlighting issues such as rising unemployment and the shifting of key projects to GujaratPatil alleged that over the past 10 years the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and its allies including Ajit Pawars NCP and the Shiv Sena have undermined the ideals of notable figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr BR Ambedkar He pointed to agricultural distress and claimed that farmers are suffering owing to inadequate prices for soybeans onions and oranges and are facing delays in drought relief and crop insuranceThe NCP SP leader criticised the government for the rising cost of living referring to the hike in petrol diesel liquified petroleum gas LPG and electricity pricesHow much money has BJP received from beef exporters questions NCP SP state chiefPatil emphasised that despite Maharashtra being a top contributor to the goods and services tax GST pool it has not received equitable treatment in the Union Budget compared to its neighbouring statesPatil also expressed concerns on BJPs reliance on Union Home Minister Amit Shah suggesting that it reflects a crisis within the Maharashtra government Shahs presence in Mumbai during the elections in Haryana and JammuKashmir indicates the seriousness of the situation The MVA Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi will come to power after winning the elections he declaredHighlighting issues such as corruption and the deteriorating law and order in the state Patil spoke about the exodus of industries from Maharashtra Factors such as corruption and unfriendly business policies have led to this shift The industrial legacy from the days of Yashwantrao Chavan is being erased he said while criticising the government for its handling of safety measures related to the flagship Ladki Bahin cash transfer scheme for women Patil claimed that the scheme has failed to ensure the protection of women and raised concerns about gangs operating with impunity and the rise of drug rackets in the stateThe government has not hesitated to indulge in corruption as seen in the construction of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs statue in Malvan he alleged referring to the outrage over the statues collapse at a coastal fort inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last yearAs part of the Hakk Magtoy campaign for the Maharashtra polls NCP SP has also launched a missed call initiative and a website to encourage public participationWhen questioned about the governments decision to declare indigenous cows as RajyamataGomata Patil accused BJP of having financial ties to beef exporters through electoral bonds How much money has BJP received from beef exporters It will reveal their true priorities he statedFurther Patil supported Union Minister Nitin Gadkaris recent remarks regarding the statersquos finances suggesting that they reflect the truth of the situation Gadkari had cautioned that the Maharashtra governments Ladki Bahin Yojana aimed at providing financial assistance to underprivileged women could jeopardise timely subsidy payments in other sectorsWith PTI inputs