Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar
Thane: Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Saturday slammed the BJP for "divisive" politics and jibed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar may have "stolen" the NCP name and symbol but "his clock has stopped ticking".
Addressing a rally in Mumbra, Kumar praised NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad for his loyalty towards opposition stalwart Sharad Pawar.
The NCP split in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government.
"The BJP is fostering chaos in governance and polls. Its tactics are designed to divide and confuse. But this time Maharashtra must rise above it and cast every vote for secularism and integrity," Kumar said.
In a swipe at the Deputy CM, he said, "Ajit Pawar stole the NCP's watch, but his clock has stopped ticking. His politics is full of uncertainty." The Narendra Modi government is focusing on corporates and industrialists while farmers are committing suicide and citizens face distress over rising prices and joblessness, Kumar alleged.
Speaking at the rally, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai said the Modi and Shinde governments thrive on dishonesty and division.
He emphasized the shared cultural heritage of the nation and the traditional unity between communities.
Awhad urged the people to vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi as "this election is about Maharashtra's identity and future".
Maharashtra polls will be held on November 20, while votes will be counted on November 23.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
Subscribe and follow DH on Whatsapp, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to never miss out on anything.