Ally Sena may continue to be Oppn within
“The state’s approach to irrigation
is outdated. Our canal network is in disarray. We need to repair them to ensure irrigated water reach the beneficiaries. We must also look at better water management and usage policies. While the Jalyukt Shivar scheme was a great concept, it has not been implemented scientifically. The focus has been on creating water structures and widening nullahs without considering hydrological principles. As a result, even after spending more than Rs7,000 crore on watershed development, the outcome is negligible and ground water table has depleted.” PRADEEP PURANDARE,
“I think the state had an opportunity
to significantly change cropping patterns, by providing farmers assured prices for pulses. It failed miserably when it came to guaranteeing a crop subsidy or assured prices after it promised it would protect farmers who had shifted to cultivating pulses instead of cash crops such as sugarcane. Overall, the government seems to lack a depth and understanding in this field, to tackle agrarian problems.
While the CM’S initial stand to not offer loan waivers to distressed farmers and instead increase investment in agriculture, especially water conservation, was bold. But, he was later politically forced to announce the waiver. The waiver, as expected, has not been successful.”
MILIND MURUGKAR,
“The state government
has put Metro projects on tracks. The Colaba-bandra-seepz Metro 3 corridor, an important line, is under construction in Mumbai. Two other Metro lines are nearing completion. However, while the push for Metro lines is seen, the government has not done much for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. In these four years, they did not create growth centres or employment opportunities in MMR for the people living there, in order to ensure they do not need to travel to Mumbai for work. Apart from that, holistic planning is lacking.”
AV SHENOY,
“I would not compare
this government with the previous one, but I can certainly say corruption has not reduced. The government boasts of having digitised the system for issuing birth, death and domicile certificates, but the new outsource machinery has replaced government employees in being corrupt. I run an NGO called Public Concern for Governance Trust India and take up issues related to corruption. We still get lot of complaints about corruption, but do not get resolutions.” JULIO REBIERO, MUMBAI: The ties between BJP and Shiv Sena have been frosty over the past four years, with the latter’s constant criticism of the government, in which the party is an ally. With the next Assembly elections less than a year away, the Sena is expected to further up the ante against the Bjp-led government and its policies
POLITICS OF CRITICISM
Political observers said the Sena’s opposition of BJP is for “political purposes” and eventually an alliance between the saffron parties is likely to be forged.
Sena, which joined the government two months after the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in 2014, said they “prioritised the people of the state over political alliance”. The party and its ministers have constantly slammed the policies of BJP, and opposed key projects.
The two parties have been at loggerheads over several projects, including the oil refinery at Nanar in Ratnagiri, the land acquisition for the 701-km Mumbai-nagpur Expressway, and over the farm loan waivers in Maharashtra. Ironically, the industries department, which notified the land for the refinery, is controlled by Sena, and so is Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, nodal agency for the expressway project. “They opposed Nanar and Samruddhi Expressway, but the departments handling the two projects are controlled by the Sena. Sena chief took the side of the farmers in both the cases, while the departments carried out their work,” said political analyst Surendra Jondhale.
Sena leader and environment minister Ramdas Kadam, however, defended his party. “We have not agreed [with the BJP] on many decisions... We are different political parties,” said Kadam. “We did not join the BJP; we joined the government and gave them the support. If it wasn’t for our support, there would have been re-election.”
According to political analyst Prakash Bal, the dual role of sharing power with BJP and criticising it has given “mixed signals” to Sena’s supporters. “The political image Sena has gained over the past four years has been misleading and confusing,” said Bal.
water expert and former professor of Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) researcher and expert agriculture policy transport expert. retired IPS officer and former Mumbai police commissioner.
ROAD TO 2019 POLLS
The Sena has raked up the Ram Janmabhoomi issue ahead of the 2019 elections. Jondhale said by appropriating the Hindutva agenda, Sena could be preparing ground for an alliance before the polls. “He [Uddhav Thackeray] is skilfully trying to create a background for an alliance. BJP wants an alliance. Both can come together on this common agenda of Hindutva,” Jondhale said.
Meanwhile, Sena leaders said they are awaiting the poll results in Rajasthan and MP, which will go to polls this year. A Sena functionary said poor performance of BJP could give them a chance to strike a better deal.