Sharad Pawar disagrees with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra assembly poll boycott plan

NASHIK: NCP leader Sharad Pawar, who was on a day-long tour of Nashik, on Monday said he has had a talk with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on the possibility of an electoral alliance. Pawar revealed that the MNS was looking to boycott the state assembly polls.
However, Pawar said he did not subscribe to the idea of not participating in the electoral process.“How can we boycott the elections? How will we know what is in the minds of people if we do not contest?” he asked.
Pawar, who was in town to review the party’s preparations for the assembly polls, interacted with the office-bearers and activists from all the 15 assembly seats in Nashik.
While talking to media persons, he accused the BJP of using letters of central agencies — like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) — to force defections from the NCP-Congress camp in the state. “My feedback is that many of the leaders have deserted the UPA after they were shown the enquiry letters of the ED and other agencies by the BJP,” alleged Pawar.
Responding to questions, Pawar said that the polls should be conducted using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs). “All the opposition parties have decided that the EVMs should be done away with. But the Election Commission (EC) has made it clear that there was no fault in EVMs and the elections will be held using the voting machines,” he added.
According to him, when even countries like the US and Australia are ditching the EVMs and reverting to the old system, then why must India used the EVMs in the polls.
Criticizing the BJP for imposing MEP on onions, Pawar said he himself had opposed the move when MEP was imposed during the UPA regime and had taken steps to revoke it. “The present BJP government has no attachment with farmers and it is taking decisions against the interest of farmers. That is why the maximum number of farmer suicides have taken place during the BJP regime,” he alleged.
Pawar also criticised the government for its financial policies. He pointed out that the fallout of demonetisation is now being seen in the form of the recession and unemployment.
Meanwhile, NCP heavyweight and former deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal was not present during Pawar’s visit. Pawar said both Bhujbal and Ajit Pawar are in Mumbai for a meeting with the Congress.