Maharashtra: NCP betrayed Congress in 2014 polls, says Nana Patole

MUMBAI: A week after NCP president Sharad Pawar dismissed his remarks that the Congress would contest future elections on its own, state Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday targeted the NCP, saying it had “betrayed” the Congress in the 2014 assembly elections. As a result, he reiterated, the Congress had now geared up to contest the 2024 general and assembly elections on its own.
“Keeping in mind the experience of 2014, we have now geared up for the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections, which we will contest on our own...So far as the MVA government is concerned, it is firmly in the saddle and routine issues are sorted out by the coordination committee,” Patole told TOI.
A week ago, Pawar had declined to comment on Patole’s “going solo” remarks, saying he would respond “only to statements made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.” Incidentally, Patole is scheduled to address a party workers’ rally at Baramati, Pawar’s hometown, on July 29.
In 2014, when Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan was the CM, there were serious allegations of corruption and irregularities against then deputy CM Ajit Pawar and water resources minister Sunil Tatkare. Following a white paper on the status of irrigation projects, it was revealed that less than 1% area had been brought under irrigation. This was followed by supercession of the NCP-controlled Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank and charges of corruption against Chhagan Bhujbal over construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi. These developments prompted the NCP to withdraw support to the government, and as a result, President’s rule was imposed in the state. Later, the NCP decided to terminate its alliance with Congress and contested the assembly elections independently.
Patole said in view of the NCP’s unilateral decision to terminate the alliance, the Congress had to pay a heavy price as it was not prepared to contest the 2014 elections independently. The BJP was the biggest beneficiary as it won 122 seats and with the outside support of NCP, it formed the government. The NCP had extended its support to BJP at that time even before final results were declared, even when the BJP had not sought NCP’s support for formation of government.
Patole said in view of the changing political situation and the fact that the Congress had suffered heavily in the past, its strategy for the 2024 general elections was being finalised. “As head of the party at the state level, my job is to expand the party at all levels and ensure that we reach out to every individual. I have been given the task of attacking the BJP”, he said.
Known for making controversial statements, Patole reiterated that the government and party are two different entities. “As a head of the party, I have different responsibilities. I will have to ensure that the party expands in all parts of the state, while the government has to provide better administration. Problems faced by the administration are resolved by the coordination committee comprising cabinet members of the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP,” he said.
On his Baramati rally, Patole said he was not challenging Pawar but was going to visit that place on the demands of party workers. “Congress workers are insisting on a rally in Baramati, and I have accepted the invitation. It will be an interaction with our workers,” Patole said.