JOIN USNana Patole fires veiled barb at NCP, says Congress was cheated in 2014
The war of words within the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation seems to be compounding with Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole firing yet another salvo making allies – Shiv Sena and NCP -- uncomfortable.
However, the alliance partners maintained that the MVA was safe and would complete its full five-year term.
On Wednesday, Patole, a four-term MLA and a former Lok Sabha MP, this time, directly hit out at the NCP but it also made the Shiv Sena -- that is heading the MVA government -- uneasy.
Patole, who has given a call to go solo in future local bodies, Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha polls, maintained that the Congress is working to expand its base so that it does not get "cheated" like in 2014.
“We (Congress) were cheated in 2014 (polls). We are now preparing for the next Lok Sabha elections keeping that in mind," he said.
Patole’s statement came just a day after AICC’s Maharashtra in-charge HK Patil, Public Works Minister Ashok Chavan and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat called on NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in the wake of the recent statements of the Congress head in the state.
While referring to 2014, Patole reminded NCP of the happenings between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls – when the Democratic Front alliance – that ran the state from 1999-2014 broke off.
It needs to be mentioned that Ashok Chavan had to resign in the wake of the Adarsh scam after which Prithviraj Chavan took over the reins of the state.
Prithviraj Chavan had a tumultuous relationship with the NCP. He had called for a white paper on the irrigation scam and appointed an administrator in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam. This did not go well within the NCP and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Besides, the then chief minister also ordered a probe into the Maharashtra Sadan scam – which directly went against then Public Works Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
In the run-up to the 2014 Assembly polls, the seat-sharing talks broke off and the government fell with the state seeing a brief President’s Rule. After the polls, the NCP offered unconditional support to BJP to form the government. However, later, Shiv Sena moved to the treasury benches.
Patole said, “A Congress-led government will come to power under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi in 2024. The BJP has put the whole nation on sale. People are suffering from the pandemic. Their situation is worsening with rising inflation.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member took a swipe at Patole. “He took up the responsibility of giving a boost to the Maharashtra Congress and ensuring that Congress comes to power on its own. That's why I must commend his courage. Nana Patole is going to revitalise the Congress..."