A public war of words between ruling alliance partners, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Maharashtra has forced state NCP president Sunil Tatkare into a damage control role. The political spat intensified after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar labeled the BJP as corrupt, prompting swift retaliation from BJP leaders.
Political Firefighting and Manifesto Launch
On Wednesday, Sunil Tatkare confirmed he had held discussions with key figures, including Ajit Pawar, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and BJP revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. He expressed hope that the public disagreements would cease. "I agree that things reached this point. But I am hopeful now that there will be no further comments and misunderstandings," Tatkare stated, addressing the BJP's targeting of his party chief.
The conflict saw BJP leaders reviving allegations related to the Rs 70,000-crore irrigation scam, in which Ajit Pawar has been accused of involvement. In response, Pawar accused the BJP of corruption in the civic bodies of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, where the two parties are direct rivals. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also entered the fray, suggesting critics of BJP's governance should "look in the mirror."
Amidst this tension, Tatkare proceeded to launch the NCP's manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, outlining a vision titled 'Mumbai for All'.
Key Promises in NCP's 'Mumbai for All' Blueprint
The manifesto presents a comprehensive plan focusing on social justice, infrastructure, and urban development. Its major pledges include:
- Waiving property tax for houses up to 700 square feet.
- Providing free water supply for residents of old chawls and slums.
- Constructing 500 km of new roads over the next five years.
- Developing economic hubs like BKC, Worli, and eastern suburbs to create job centers.
- Building 1 lakh new affordable houses and introducing smart water meters by 2030.
- Implementing a garbage collection tax.
Focus on Sustainability, Safety, and Social Welfare
The NCP's plan also emphasizes environmental and social initiatives. To combat pollution, it promises to transform Mumbai into a 'Green City' by planting 10 lakh trees and promoting electric buses and CNG vehicles. For urban management, it proposes an AI-powered 'smart traffic signal' system and expanding CCTV and WiFi networks under the Smart City initiative.
On the social front, the manifesto includes a 'Safe Mumbai' campaign for women, featuring increased police patrolling, dedicated helplines, and working women's hostels. It also vows to provide free training and loans for women entrepreneurs. Other promises involve introducing a school module to promote equality and good citizenship, offering fare concessions for persons with disabilities in the Metro, and planning facilities for stray dogs alongside a licensing system for pets.
The launch of this detailed manifesto sets the stage for a competitive BMC election, even as the ruling state alliance partners navigate their internal disagreements.
