Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will usher in a new era of transparent governance for the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation if it secures victory in the upcoming civic polls. He confidently stated that the city is poised to get a mayor from the BJP.
Alliance Talks with Shiv Sena Hit a Wall
Addressing the failure to form a pre-poll alliance with the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis revealed that the BJP had made consistent efforts to broker a deal. He mentioned that overtures were even made to the district's guardian minister, Sanjay Shirsat. However, he attributed the collapse of the alliance to internal disagreements and differences within the local units of the Shiv Sena, which ultimately prevented a partnership.
Transparency and Hindutva as Core Promises
When asked a hypothetical question about what he would do if appointed mayor, Fadnavis pointed directly to a perceived lack of transparency in the current municipal corporation's operations. He assured citizens that corrective measures would be a top priority under BJP rule.
Speaking at an interview program organized by the BJP to outline his development vision for the city, the Chief Minister made a striking analogy. "Hindutva is our SIM card. Without it, the mobile does not function," he said, emphasizing the party's ideological foundation. He promised that even with a clear majority, the BJP would work in collaboration with its allies and other parties oriented towards Hindu ideology.
Addressing the City's Chronic Water Crisis
Shifting focus to a critical civic issue, Fadnavis targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray for the delays in solving Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's drinking water problems, blaming decisions from Thackeray's tenure.
He provided a detailed update on the water supply scheme, announcing that testing for a powerful 3,700-horsepower pump has been successfully completed. Residents can expect water to start reaching the city within the next two months, according to the CM.
Fadnavis explained the project's financial journey: an initial approval of Rs 1,600 crore, where the municipal corporation's contribution was waived. Subsequent policy changes caused delays. Now, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's AMRUT scheme, a revised Rs 2,700-crore plan is being executed. Loan approvals have been secured to finance the civic body's share of the cost.
He claimed that within two months, all areas of the city, including Satara and Deolai, would receive a daily supply of purified drinking water.
The Chief Minister's statements came on the same day the BJP released its election manifesto for the civic polls, which was unveiled by Fadnavis himself. He concluded by pledging to take all necessary steps to put Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the global map.
