Mumbai: Rift between the Congress-NCP led Opposition combine has begun surfacing with Raju Shetti of Swabhimani Shetkar Sanghatana (SSS) alleging the smaller parties are being cheated by the national parties, in the name of grand alliance. Now, these smaller parties want to test waters for a possible fourth alliance.
Shetti, who broke away from the NDA due to differences over agriculture-policy, has accused the Congress-NCP combine of not being serious about important agrarian issues like FRP payment to sugarcane farmers, loan waiver and assured rates of 150% as production cost of crops. Moreover, sources say Shetti’s demand for six Lok Sabha seats too will not be accepted by the alliance. Considering all the reasons, he is now contemplating a fourth front.
Shetti’s close confidante Ravikant Tupkar has been camping in Mumbai for the last few days to pursue talks on seat with the Congress and the NCP. The party had been eyeing seats from the sugarcane belt of Western Maha—Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Dhule and Nandurbar in North Maharashtra and Vardha and Buldana in Vidarbha. Tupkar wants to contest from Buldana and SSS had been eyeing the Vardha seat for its candidate, the former minister Subodh Mohite.
However, both, NCP and Congress have announced names of Dr Rajendra Shingne a former minister and Charulata Tokas for Buldana and Vardha LS seats, respectively. This is said to have miffed Shetti. Shetti is now contemplating a 4th front, comprising of candidates discarded by other parties and are expected to revolt.