4 years on, Fadnavis govt high on infra push, low on agri issues; crucial last lap remains
MUMBAI: The Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra will complete four years in power on Wednesday, but with less than a year to go for the 2019 elections, how Fadnavis tackles challenges such as drought and the Maratha reservation issue may decide his government’s fate .
So far, the BJP’S performance has been a mixed bag.
While political observers and policy experts felt the performance can be considered better than its predecessors’, they agreed this relatively better performance may not be enough to ensure another tenure.
On the plus side, Maharashtra became the first government to implement the Right to Services Act.
It managed to implement a CCTV project for Mumbai that was recommended after the 26/11 terror attacks.
The government’s push for big-ticket infrastructure projects such as the Navi Mumbai international airport and transharbour link has got a thumbs up from the urban mandate.
But, crucial promises such as tackling corruption in civic bodies and delivering good roads remain a pipe dream.
Further, rural discontent, agrarian crisis and drought are likely to be the government’s biggest challenges ahead of the 2019 poll season, despite a loan waiver that has helped 39.80 lakh farmers.
Meanwhile, the BJP’S ally in the state, the Shiv Sena, is also expected to up the ante against the government and its policies. It has already raked up the Ram Janmabhoomi issue and slammed the BJP for failing to fulfil its 2014 poll promise of building a temple at Ayodhya.
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