A brewing storm in Maharashtra politics: Congress has ridiculed the merged manifesto of NCP’s split factions, dismissing the entire Mahayuti municipal election campaign as a ‘fixed match’ orchestrated for easy wins. This salvo aims to rally opposition forces ahead of voting in major cities.
The joint declaration by the Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar NCP camps outlines bold visions for civic improvements—smart cities, sanitation drives, and youth employment hubs. Yet, Congress leaders like Nana Patole argue it’s all smoke and mirrors. ‘Factional rivals uniting only on paper? This reeks of a rigged contest to safeguard the status quo,’ Patole stated emphatically.
As Mahayuti—BJP’s powerhouse alliance with Shinde Sena and Ajit NCP—gears up to defend its urban strongholds, MVA partners are leveraging this to paint them as undemocratic. The elections, involving millions of voters, carry immense significance for control over lucrative civic contracts and administrative leverage.
Congress campaigns are gaining traction with pointed critiques: the manifesto’s recycled promises ignore pressing issues like pothole-ridden streets and erratic power supply. Ground reports indicate enthusiastic responses in Pune and Thane, where anti-incumbency simmers.
Defending the move, NCP insiders claim it demonstrates maturity beyond petty rivalries, focusing on voter-centric agendas. But with Congress intensifying its ‘fixed match’ rhetoric through social media blitzes and street plays, the narrative battle is as crucial as the ballot box. Maharashtra’s urban electorate will ultimately decide if this is collaboration or collusion.