A day after the outcomes of the primary two phases of the Maharashtra native physique polls had been declared, with the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering’s Mahayuti occasion successful yet one more landslide, state Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal spoke to The Indian Categorical in regards to the occasion’s efficiency, technique and the place the opposition might have gone flawed. The Congress gained 28 of the 288 native our bodies that went to the polls.
* What’s your evaluation of the Congress’s efficiency in native polls?
The outcomes are spectacular. We’re optimistic in regards to the future as a celebration. We gained 41 presidential posts and 1,006 councilor posts. It was doable due to the onerous work of our employees and their perception in Social gathering ideology. This underlines that the Congress has not misplaced its voter base and stays firmly established as the primary opposition pressure throughout the state.
Additionally, we weren’t combating a good struggle. We had been combating an unethical authorities working beneath the stress of the Mahayuti’s cash and energy, a partial State Election Fee (SEC), and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two lieutenants (Mr. Ajit Pawar and Mr. Eknath Shinde).
* However can we maintain the federal government and the SEC solely liable for the end result?
Have you ever seen the sum of money spent on hyper-local polls like this? The quantity spent by Shinde might very effectively revive the financial system of a poor nation. The BJP can also be on par with him. What did the SEC do to cease this? All of us noticed the intimidation by the ruling occasion to make sure a no-vote election. Has the SEC taken any motion? District reorganization additionally clearly benefited the ruling occasion.
* Has the choice to contest alone somewhat than placing up a united entrance beneath the banner of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) price the opposition?
We didn’t struggle alone and gave native forces the liberty to resolve on alliances. We fought with Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) in lots of locations. The place alliances weren’t doable, they even collaborated with native political events and peasant organizations. It might be flawed to say that we fought alone. Our native forces made the choice and we didn’t intervene with it.
* However did it damage your probabilities?
Our determination led to a cut up within the vote, which helped not solely us but additionally our allies. The core of our technique was to cease the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering. In the event that they resolve that fielding an MVA candidate might result in consolidation of votes for Mahayuti, it’s higher to struggle alone and cut up these votes.
Native equations had been additionally thought of for every district. Higher coordination would have resulted in higher outcomes.
* How do parliamentary officers view the outcomes?
In such native elections, it’s inconceivable for the central authorities to manage every little thing. By empowering native models, we had been capable of foster native management as a corporation. Employees acquired the respect they deserved and the belief they so desperately wanted.
*What plans do you’ve got for native authorities opinion polls? Can Congress and the opposition events flip issues round in time for subsequent month’s polls?
This election has taught us loads, together with tackling the centralization of energy and the abuse of cash and energy. We will probably be higher ready for native authorities voting, which is held on a ward-by-ward foundation and to not elect a mayor.
Nonetheless, the core concepts, resembling suspending the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering, stay the identical. Native forces will as soon as once more be empowered to resolve what is beneficial and whether or not to kind alliances. Our energy is our honest and devoted occasion members.
*Why did the occasion go it alone within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) polls and never kind an alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT)?
This determination was made primarily based on worker suggestions. Mumbai’s determination was primarily based on enter from native employees and leaders. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad has already spoken on the matter. I am not saying we’re going it alone so far as the remainder of the state is worried. We are saying that native forces make choices concerning alliances.
