MVA Leaders Missing in Action During Key Maharashtra Civic Poll Campaigns
The campaign trail for municipal corporation elections in Malegaon, Jalgaon, Dhule, and Ahilyanagar followed a familiar pattern. Senior politicians from the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition failed to make significant appearances. This absence created a noticeable vacuum in the political landscape.
Prominent Leaders Campaign Actively for Ruling Alliance
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to the campaign trail with vigor. Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde also participated, though he cancelled a planned roadshow. Environment Minister Pankaja Munde joined other prominent politicians touring these cities. They campaigned vigorously for their respective parties and the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
In contrast, key figures from Congress, NCP (SP), MNS, and Shiv Sena (UBT) remained conspicuously absent. Political observers noted this striking discrepancy. Even AIMIM member Akbaruddin Owaisi made multiple appearances across these districts.
Opposition Leaders Focus on Home Turf
Top opposition figures seemed preoccupied with their own regions. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and NCP chief Ajit Pawar both remained in Pune. Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray stayed put in Mumbai. This left local workers to manage campaign events independently.
A Shiv Sena (UBT) member from Ahilyanagar provided specific details. "Even MLA Rohit Pawar skipped several events in Ahilyanagar," the member said. "Local workers had to manage everything on their own without support from senior leadership."
Campaign Rhetoric Avoids Local Issues
In Ahilyanagar, NCP and BJP contested jointly against Shiv Sena. Campaign speeches focused heavily on promises of development. However, they carefully avoided addressing pressing local concerns.
Issues like encroachment along the Sina River, which caused severe waterlogging, received no attention. Instead, political rhetoric largely revolved around Hindu-Muslim divides. This offered little relief for citizens' everyday concerns about infrastructure and governance.
The final day of campaigning featured an unusual appearance. Wrestler Dalip Singh Rana, popularly known as ‘The Great Khali,' urged voters in Ahilyanagar to support the NCP-BJP alliance.
Similar Patterns Emerge in Jalgaon
A similar scenario unfolded in Jalgaon. Shiv Sena, NCP, and BJP contested together as Mahayuti against MVA. Chief Minister Fadnavis campaigned actively in both Dhule and Jalgaon.
Water Resources and Development Minister Girish Mahajan campaigned energetically. Guardian Minister Gulabrao Patil also worked actively for the alliance. Their efforts contrasted sharply with the opposition's absence.
Local businessman Rajesh Bhangale expressed disappointment with campaign priorities. "Citizens want better roads and improved vegetable markets," Bhangale said. "They need decongested traffic and development of tourist attractions. These issues were completely missing from party promises."
Bhangale noted that parties instead emphasized trade and industry investments. This focus failed to address immediate civic concerns affecting daily life.
Owaisi Makes Solo Appearance in Malegaon
No major politicians visited Malegaon except Akbaruddin Owaisi. The AIMIM leader urged voters to support his party during his appearance. He also delivered a speech in Dhule that criticized Congress.
Owaisi specifically targeted Congress for introducing the UAPA law. He alleged widespread misuse of this legislation against Muslims. His solo campaigning highlighted the opposition's overall absence from these crucial civic polls.
The campaign period revealed clear patterns. The ruling alliance demonstrated strong organizational presence across multiple districts. Meanwhile, opposition parties failed to mount coordinated campaigns, relying instead on local workers and occasional appearances by individual leaders.
