 "Maharashtra assembly poll: Modi brings twist in five-corner contest")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll rallies has brought a major twist in the five corner contest in the election to the Maharashtra assembly poll. His rivals are stepping up attack against Modi while the latter is selling development plank. The polling is slated for October 15 while counting on October 19 for the 288 seats.
Pre-election opinion polls are giving BJP an upper hand. However, Shiv Sena, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have dubbed it as ''paid'' ones and refused to go by their findings. Interestingly, Shiv Sena has not yet given up but declared all out war against BJP and Modi blaming them for betrayal and back stabbing.
On the other hand, Congress party, which is yet to recover from its crushing defeat in Lok Sabhha poll, has left party's prospects to their regional satraps. However, for Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), it is a fight for survival as Maharashtra being its citadel.
Despite mounting criticism from Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, the Prime Minister is avoiding verbal duel but making repeated appeal to voters to give BJP a comfortable majority for a strong government to scale Maharashtra's growth new high. Modi is also attacking Congress and NCP for Maharashtra's downgrade.
On the other hand, Uddhav is targeting Modi for dividing Maharashtra and Modi's silence for the Sena-BJP split. According to Uddhav, Modi has ditched Sena even though they stood by him during his worst phase in 2002 during the Gujarat riots.
Uddhav is appealing vote for the sake of Maharashtra's pride sending out a strong signal that his party will not surrendered before BJP or Modi even after the elections in the wake of fractured mandate. More importantly, Uddhav is cashing on Bal Thackeray's legacy reiterating that there only Bal Thackeray wave no Modi wave in the assembly election.
For Modi, BJP government in Maharashtra is quite crucial to pursue his plan to develop Mumbai as a global financial centre and capital for skill development. A weak Shiv Sena will help BJP to further consolidate its presence across the state.
However, Shiv Sena has been successful to play ''United Maharashtra"card which forced BJP to drop Vidarbha statehood from its manifesto. The party has ruled out post poll alliance with BJP.
Curiously, Congress and NCP are fighting assembly poll independently after 1999. Both have attacked Modi and BJP for bringing disrepute to Maharashtra. However, they are involved in verbal duel. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has squarely blamed Congress for snapping ties while Congress is putting onus on NCP. Congress leadership alleged that NCP has an understanding with BJP but it has been strongly denied by NCP.
Congress is banking on Mr Clean image of former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan who is heading its campaign. On the other hand, NCP hopes to cash in on Sharad Pawar's pro-development, secular image.
In case of Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, present assembly poll is an acid test. MNS clout, which was prevalent in 2009 assembly poll, is not visible. Besides, lack of strong organizational build up the party is striving to sell its Maharashtra vision.
Where parties stand
BJP: The party, which rode on Modi wave to win 23 Lok Sabha seats, hopes to win a comfortable majority in the state. Their biggest strength is tacit support of RSS Parivar, strong organizational base in Vidarbha, Marathwada and North Maharashtra. Of course, Modi has a star campaigner. Besides, party has made enough inroads in Mumbai, Konkan and rest of Maharashtra due to its alliance with Shiv Sena since 1989. However, loss of OBC leader Gopinath Munde, who after the demise of Pramod Mahajan, maintained all efforts to survive BJP's alliance with Shiv Sena, has been a major negative. Already party's seven leaders including Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javadekar, Piyush Goyal, state chief Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde are the fray to become chief minister. BJP faces flak for inducting scam tainted former ministers and leaders especially from NCP.
Shiv Sena: The saffron party is contesting 286 assembly seats after BJP broke alliance. Party president Uddhav Thackeray is in a driver's seat and he succeed to keep party united after supremo Bal Thackeray's death. It is a big positive for party. A lot of Congress, NCP, BJP and MNS members joined Shiv Sena which stuck to its Mission 150 plank. Uddhav is party's campaigner along with his team including his son and Yuva Sena chief Aditya, senior leaders Divakar Ravate, Ramdas Kadam, Anil Desai and Neelam Gorhe. Uddhav titled focus in his favour attacking Modi on the issue of pride of Maharashtra and Marathi. He also continued to grill Congress and NCP on its corrupt rule.
Uddhav has said party will get the majority andc completely ruled out post poll alliance with BJP. Besides, he also said the situation will not arise to seek help from his estranged cousin brother and MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
Congress: NCP's decision to break 15 year alliance and thereby withdraw its support to the government caught Congress unawares. The imposition of Presidential rule further made Congress furious. However, it is now clear that Congress had taken decision to severe its links with NCP as it was not prepared to carry latter's baggage. Congress leaders including former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan argued that scam tainted NCP's image may dadversely impact party's poll prospects. Congress aruged that its alliance with NCP helps latter but it fails to transfer votes to Congress. Despite crushing defeat in general election, Congress party's presence across the state is a big positive. However, lack of strong organisational base, factionalism and paucity of funds may go against the party. Congress has to strive to regain its traditional vote bank including muslims, minorities, dalits.
NCP: It is a huge challenge for NCP to change the perception of being the most corrupt party among the voters. It has been targeted by all parties. NCP had prepared to contest 130 sears considering that its alliance will continue with Congress. However, the party failed to nominate formidable candidates so also struggling to cope up with the situation. Party's fire brand leader Ajit Pawar, who has not hidden his ambition to become chief minister, is attacked in print, electronic and social media for his controversial remarks and alleged involvement in the multi crore irrigation scam. However, NCP is countering these allegations saying that those who perform are always targeted.
MNS: Raj Thackeray hit the headlines for his agitation against north Indians and also against toll. It is Raj centric party and he has failed to develop second or thrid rung leadership in the state. His party members have gone back to Shiv Sena due to lack of clear policy. He is a crowd puller and declared that MNS may support Shiv Sena after the present assembly election.
Pre-election opinion polls are giving BJP an upper hand. However, Shiv Sena, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have dubbed it as ''paid'' ones and refused to go by their findings. Interestingly, Shiv Sena has not yet given up but declared all out war against BJP and Modi blaming them for betrayal and back stabbing.
On the other hand, Congress party, which is yet to recover from its crushing defeat in Lok Sabhha poll, has left party's prospects to their regional satraps. However, for Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), it is a fight for survival as Maharashtra being its citadel.
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On top of it, assembly poll is a matter of prestige for Sharad Pawar who has already retired from the electoral politics. As far as MNS is concerned, it is an opportunity to revive and stay afloat especially after rout in the Lok Sabha poll.
Despite mounting criticism from Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, the Prime Minister is avoiding verbal duel but making repeated appeal to voters to give BJP a comfortable majority for a strong government to scale Maharashtra's growth new high. Modi is also attacking Congress and NCP for Maharashtra's downgrade.
On the other hand, Uddhav is targeting Modi for dividing Maharashtra and Modi's silence for the Sena-BJP split. According to Uddhav, Modi has ditched Sena even though they stood by him during his worst phase in 2002 during the Gujarat riots.
Uddhav is appealing vote for the sake of Maharashtra's pride sending out a strong signal that his party will not surrendered before BJP or Modi even after the elections in the wake of fractured mandate. More importantly, Uddhav is cashing on Bal Thackeray's legacy reiterating that there only Bal Thackeray wave no Modi wave in the assembly election.
For Modi, BJP government in Maharashtra is quite crucial to pursue his plan to develop Mumbai as a global financial centre and capital for skill development. A weak Shiv Sena will help BJP to further consolidate its presence across the state.
However, Shiv Sena has been successful to play ''United Maharashtra"card which forced BJP to drop Vidarbha statehood from its manifesto. The party has ruled out post poll alliance with BJP.
Curiously, Congress and NCP are fighting assembly poll independently after 1999. Both have attacked Modi and BJP for bringing disrepute to Maharashtra. However, they are involved in verbal duel. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has squarely blamed Congress for snapping ties while Congress is putting onus on NCP. Congress leadership alleged that NCP has an understanding with BJP but it has been strongly denied by NCP.
Congress is banking on Mr Clean image of former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan who is heading its campaign. On the other hand, NCP hopes to cash in on Sharad Pawar's pro-development, secular image.
In case of Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, present assembly poll is an acid test. MNS clout, which was prevalent in 2009 assembly poll, is not visible. Besides, lack of strong organizational build up the party is striving to sell its Maharashtra vision.
Where parties stand
BJP: The party, which rode on Modi wave to win 23 Lok Sabha seats, hopes to win a comfortable majority in the state. Their biggest strength is tacit support of RSS Parivar, strong organizational base in Vidarbha, Marathwada and North Maharashtra. Of course, Modi has a star campaigner. Besides, party has made enough inroads in Mumbai, Konkan and rest of Maharashtra due to its alliance with Shiv Sena since 1989. However, loss of OBC leader Gopinath Munde, who after the demise of Pramod Mahajan, maintained all efforts to survive BJP's alliance with Shiv Sena, has been a major negative. Already party's seven leaders including Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javadekar, Piyush Goyal, state chief Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde are the fray to become chief minister. BJP faces flak for inducting scam tainted former ministers and leaders especially from NCP.
Shiv Sena: The saffron party is contesting 286 assembly seats after BJP broke alliance. Party president Uddhav Thackeray is in a driver's seat and he succeed to keep party united after supremo Bal Thackeray's death. It is a big positive for party. A lot of Congress, NCP, BJP and MNS members joined Shiv Sena which stuck to its Mission 150 plank. Uddhav is party's campaigner along with his team including his son and Yuva Sena chief Aditya, senior leaders Divakar Ravate, Ramdas Kadam, Anil Desai and Neelam Gorhe. Uddhav titled focus in his favour attacking Modi on the issue of pride of Maharashtra and Marathi. He also continued to grill Congress and NCP on its corrupt rule.
Uddhav has said party will get the majority andc completely ruled out post poll alliance with BJP. Besides, he also said the situation will not arise to seek help from his estranged cousin brother and MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
Congress: NCP's decision to break 15 year alliance and thereby withdraw its support to the government caught Congress unawares. The imposition of Presidential rule further made Congress furious. However, it is now clear that Congress had taken decision to severe its links with NCP as it was not prepared to carry latter's baggage. Congress leaders including former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan argued that scam tainted NCP's image may dadversely impact party's poll prospects. Congress aruged that its alliance with NCP helps latter but it fails to transfer votes to Congress. Despite crushing defeat in general election, Congress party's presence across the state is a big positive. However, lack of strong organisational base, factionalism and paucity of funds may go against the party. Congress has to strive to regain its traditional vote bank including muslims, minorities, dalits.
NCP: It is a huge challenge for NCP to change the perception of being the most corrupt party among the voters. It has been targeted by all parties. NCP had prepared to contest 130 sears considering that its alliance will continue with Congress. However, the party failed to nominate formidable candidates so also struggling to cope up with the situation. Party's fire brand leader Ajit Pawar, who has not hidden his ambition to become chief minister, is attacked in print, electronic and social media for his controversial remarks and alleged involvement in the multi crore irrigation scam. However, NCP is countering these allegations saying that those who perform are always targeted.
MNS: Raj Thackeray hit the headlines for his agitation against north Indians and also against toll. It is Raj centric party and he has failed to develop second or thrid rung leadership in the state. His party members have gone back to Shiv Sena due to lack of clear policy. He is a crowd puller and declared that MNS may support Shiv Sena after the present assembly election.