Congress, NCP (SP) accuse BJP of turning civic polls into ‘family-first affair’

The Congress and NCP SP on Saturday accused the BJP of turning the upcoming Maharashtra local body elections into a ldquofamilyfirst affairrdquo by allegedly ensuring the uncontested victories of relatives of BJP leaders and pressuring rival candidates to withdrawLeading the attack Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged that democracy is being ldquotrampledrdquo through pressure tactics and the misuse of government machinery by the ruling Mahayuti alliance reported PTIResponding to the allegations the BJP rejected the claims and hit back at the opposition calling the Congress and Sharad Pawarndashled NCP SP ldquoparties of dynastsWadettiwar claimed that relatives of BJP leaders including wives sistersinlaw cousins brothersinlaw and sons have been elected unopposed to municipal councils and nagar panchayats which go to polls on December 2ldquoThis is not a celebration of democracy This is the murder of democracy Using power and pressure the ruling side is ensuring unopposed victories and then congratulating themselvesrdquo he told reporters in NagpurHe further alleged that opposition candidates are being coerced to withdraw using money power police pressure and intimidationldquoGoondaism and threats have become tools to secure uncontested wins for relatives of those in powerrdquo the Congress leader said according to PTIHe claimed women candidates of the BJP had allegedly threatened voters with withholding development funds if they didnt vote for themSince the chief minister belongs to the BJP party officebearers feel emboldened But ultimately the people will decide he addedThe NCP SP also echoed the allegations raised by Congress its alliance partner in the MVA blocThe BJP is turning the upcoming municipal elections into a familyfirst affair The ruling party has sidelined grassroots workers by distributing nominations to relatives of its ministers and legislators alleged NCP SP spokesperson Ravikant Varpe according to PTIVarpe alleged that nominations in Jamner Buldhana Yavatmal Khadakdholi Chalisgaon and several other places have gone to relatives of cabinet ministers including the spouses of ministers Girish Mahajan and Sanjay Savarkar and the daughter of minister Ashok UikeThe same leaders who speak of organisational discipline and transparency are themselves practising blatant family politics he said while targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the unopposed election of his relativeHe accused the BJP of nominating multiple members of the Gajanan Suryawanshi family for president and councillor posts in the Loha Municipal Council in Nanded DistrictElections to 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats are scheduled for December 2 and votes will be counted a day laterHowever the runup to the electoral contest is dominated by the victories of relatives of some BJP leaders without contest with a common template opponents withdrawing from the frayState BJP president Ravindra Chavan has claimed an unopposed election of 100 councillors of the ruling party in municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the runup to Maharashtra local body electionsHe said three candidates were elected unopposed as the presidents of municipal councilsSeveral relatives of senior BJP leaders including ministers Girish Mahajan and Jaykumar Rawal have been elected unopposed in local bodiesIn Jamner Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajans wife Sadhana was elected unopposed to the post of municipal council president after Congress nominee Rupali Lalwani and two NCP candidates withdrew from the frayMarketing Minister Jaykumar Rawals mother Nayan was elected as president of the DondaichaVarwade Municipal Council in Dhule District without contest after opposition candidate Sharyu Bhavsars nomination was rejectedBhavsar alleged that the nomination was rejected under pressure from the ministerAnother prominent uncontested victory is of Alhad Kaloti a cousin of CM Fadnavis in the Chikhaldara Municipal CouncilCongress leader Yashomati Thakur from Amravati District had alleged intimidation and inducements to ensure the withdrawal of competing candidatesSeveral relatives of ministers MLAs and MPs including Labour Minister Aakash Fundkar Textiles Minister Sanjay Savkare Minister Ashok Uike former MP Ramdas Tadas MLA Mangesh Chavan and MLA Prakash Bharsakle are either in the fray or have already been elected unopposed for posts in local civic bodiesThe BJP has rejected the charges raised by the Congress and NCP SPSharad Pawarled NCP SP is in no position to accuse others of promoting dynasty In the 288 municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in Maharashtra barely five per cent of BJP candidates are related to any leader The remaining 95 per cent are ordinary grassroots workers who have been given an opportunity BJP media chief Navnath Ban claimedHe alleged that the NCP SP revolves entirely around Supriya Sule Rohit Pawar and Yugendra PawarBan said the BJP has development organisational strength and public support whereas the NCP SP relies on recycled accusations and the legacy of dynastyHe said the Congress is the original and uninterrupted patron of family rule in Indian politicsAcross the country Congress remains a familyrun franchise Before accusing the BJP Congress should first look into the mirror and acknowledge the deeprooted dynastic culture within its own ranks he addedWith PTI inputs