Congress, NCP form ‘56-party’ alliance to take on BJP-Sena

MUMBAI: In a first experiment of its kind, the Congress and NCP have mobilised 54 political parties, trade unions and social organisations to set up United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) to take on the BJP-Shiv Sena in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It took the Congress-NCP more than three months to garner support of “like-minded” political parties, trade unions and social organisations for the front.

State Congress president Ashok Chavan, NCP’s Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, RPI(G)’s Rajendra Gavai, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi’s Hitendra Thakur, Swabimani Shetkari Sanghatana’s Raju Shetti, RPI(K)’s Jogendra Kawade, Yuva Swabhimani’s Ravi Rana and PWP’s Bhai Jayant Patil are some of the prominent office-bearers of the UPGA.The mobilisation of such a large number of political parties assumes significant political importance as there was uncertainty over Raju Shetti and Hitendra Thakur joining the “Maha Aghadi”.
“We are determined to defeat the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. People at the grassroot level are unhappy with the BJPShiv Sena government owing to its failure on all fronts. It has failed to address agrarian crisis, unemployment, poverty, price rise and above all owing to introduction of GST and note ban, the entire economy has collapsed,” Ashok Chavan said at a press conference held to announce the front on Saturday. Leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil whose son Sujay recently joined the BJP was conspicuous by his absence.
Chavan said that the seatsharing formula among the constituents of the UPGA has been finalised.
Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar took a dig Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar without mentioning his name. “Those political parties, which have not joined the Maha Aghadi are Bteams of the BJP. We had a series of negotiations with them on seat sharing but now it appears, it was a farce as they had already decided to contest in such a manner that it will benefit the BJP,” Pawar said. He also slammed CM Devendra Fadnavis and accused him of making “hollow claims on development plans and on strengthening his organisation”.
“I think, he is misleading the people. In the last four and half years, Fadnavis has failed to build up his own organisation, as a result, he had to import candidates from the Congress and NCP for the Lok Sabha elections,” Chavan said.
PWP’s Bhai Jayant Patil said it was for the first time in the last 52 years that his party will not be contesting the Lok Sabha elections. “We have considerable presence in Raigad district and in the last elections, our candidates secured huge votes. But now, we have decided to support the Congress-NCP nominees to ensure the defeat of the BJP-Shiv Sena nominees. In my opinion, smaller and like-minded parties should not insist on Lok Sabha nominations and instead, should focus on drafting strategy for defeating BJP-Shiv Sena nominees,” Patil said.
The Congress also declared that Hingoli Congress MP Rajeev Satao will not contest the Lok Sabha elections.