Senior Congress leader and AIICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Mallikarjuna Kharge said here on Sunday that his party would corner the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance on issues the State Government’s failure to tackle drought, floods, continued farmer suicides, unemployment and economic recession, during its
campaign for the State Assembly polls.
Talking to media persons after inaugurating the Congress’ war room for the State Assembly polls at the party headquarters “Tilak Bhavanâ€, Kharge said: “Maharashtra has denigrated markedly during the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance’s five-year rule in the State. During our campaign for the State Assembly polls, we will corner the BJP-led saffron alliance over its failure to tackle drought, continued farmer suicides, unemployment and economic recessionâ€.
Kharge came down heavily on the Devendra Fadnavis government for using police force and mid-night cover to fell trees at Aarey colony in north Mumbai to pave way for the construction of a Metro car shed. “Mumbaikars, students and environmentalists who opposed the cutting of trees were arrested and thrown behind the bars. Modi had narrated one incident in television programme Rs Man vs Wild’ to reveal his sensitivity towards Nature, the same Prime Minister should tell his favourite chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to release the youngsters
arrested for resisting the large-scale tree felling at Aarey Colony.
When his attention was drawn to the statement Congress’ former Mumbai unit president Sanjay Nirupam who among things said that he would not campaign for the party, the party would lose all but three to four seats in Mumbai and spoke about a conspiracy within the Congress to throw out people close to Rahul Gandhi, Kharge said: “We would action after the receipt of a report from the Maharashtra Congress committeeâ€.
Asked as to why the names of Sanjay Nirupam and Milind Deora did not figure in the list of the party’s star campaigners, Kharge said: “We have not removed any name from the list of star campaigners. The list has been prepared by the state Congress committeeâ€.
Kharge urged the party workers to sink their differences and campaign for the party as one unit. “This is not the time for the party leaders to fight among themselves, but to unite and work for the party,†he said
Kharge said that through its war room set up under the helmsman ship of senior state party leader Avinash Pandey, the Congress would manage its campaign and coordination among its leaders. “Through our war room, we will coordinate the dates and timings of various public rallies extend help and legal guidance to our party candidates and workers,†he said.
