Giving a call for an inclusive united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) launched its campaign for the 2019 elections on Thursday from Raigad Fort, the capital of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji’s kingdom. The NCP also held it’s first public rally in Mahad, the place where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar began the satyagraha in 1927 demanding the right for untouchables to drink water from Chavdar lake and burnt copies of Manusmriti.
‘Will save people’
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj successfully challenged the authoritarian regime of Delhi. He was not alone, people from all castes and religions joined him. Our fight too is with the dictatorial government in Delhi, which is destroying all institutions of the country. We have a task to save the country, save the people,” said former deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, addressing the public rally in Mahad.
It isn’t a coincidence that the BJP in 2014 too had launched its poll campaign in the State from Raigad fort in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the slogan of ‘leke Chhatrapati ka ashirwad, chalo chale Modi ke saath (Let’s walk with Modi with blessings from Chhatrapati).
The NCP has named its campaign as ‘Nirdhar Parivartnancha’ (Determination to bring change). “This campaign will send a clear message to the ruling parties that an united Congress and NCP is determined to bring change in the State and Centre,” said Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde.
Earlier in the day, the party’s senior leadership offered floral tributes at the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the fort and later at the mausoleum of his mother Jijabai. The party ensured the presence of all senior leaders for this program, and the one at Chavdar lake.
“The state government is said to be ruled by two parties which are constantly at war with each other and claim to pin each other. While these parties fight in public, they continue to hold secret meetings,” said State unit president Jayant Patil. Mr. Patil claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray held a midnight secret meeting at Sofitel Hotel in Bandra Kurla Complex three days ago. “Will they explain why such secret meeting was held?” he asked.
Through this tour, the NCP will also concentrate on areas from where it will be contesting the general elections.