Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. (File)
Politics in Western Maharashtra lies through the fields of sugarcane and the ruling BJP seems to be taking the same route as it sets to challenge farmers’ leader Raju Shetti right in his own backyard.
On Wednesday, Minister for State for Agriculture Sadashiv Khot is going to hold his Shetkari Kashtakari Melava in the premises of the Warna cooperative sugar mill in Shirol taluka of Kolhapur. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to be present during the meeting, which, analysts feel would be the start of BJP’s bid to take on Shetti in the upcoming general elections.
Before his much public ouster from the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Khot was a permanent feature at the annual Oosh Parishad (Cane Conclave) held by Shetti in Kolhapur’s Jaysinghpur town. During the parishad, the Sanghtana declared the first installment payment for cane, failing which mills were not allowed to start their crushing operations. The parishad, the crowd at the parishad as well as the reaction of the crowd gives a good indication about the political atmosphere in the region.
Since his departure from the NDA, Shetti has become a bitter critic of the BJP and has left no stone unturned to berate both the state and central government. In fact, he is fast emerging as an important leader in the Opposition camp and is trying to stich a grand alliance of the opposition parties. Keeping with his tradition, Shetti has called for the Oosh Parishad on Saturday, which would be the last such conclave before the general elections. A lot is at stake for Shetti as the ruling BJP is out to corner him in his own backyard.
In this background, the significance of choosing Kolhapur for Khot’s meeting is not lost on political commentators. Vinay Kore, the chairman of the Warna Group, was one of the first cooperative leaders from Western Maharashtra to officially join hands with the BJP. Also, the mill is located at stone’s throw distance from Jaysinghpur — the venue of Shetti’s parishad. This area, falls under the Lok Sabha constituency of Hatkhanagale — the seat represented by Shetti.
Another important feature, for Khot’s rally is the presence of the chief minister himself. While Khot has not christened his meeting as Oosh Parishad, but cane will certainly be the topic of discussion there. Analysts feel that this might be the platform to launch the BJP’s candidate to take on Shetti in the Lok Sabha polls. Khot has expressed his willingness to be the candidate if the party decides so. It remains to be done.
Being held in the cane belt, announcement about the first installment payment for cane is supposed to be made. The minister had earlier talked of demanding over Rs 3,500 per tonne as the first installment payment for the season. All eyes will be on the chief minister to see how he reacts to such demands, given the overall precarious condition of the sugar industry in general.