CONG-NCP...

The former Union minister said the Rafale deal will ensure “the end of the BJP regime” at the Centre. “The price of Rafale deal increased… everybody knows who benefited. The ghost of Rafale deal will oust the Modi government,” he said.

Pawar also slammed the Maharashtra government over its failure to give reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community, and ensuring that the Marathas got it.

Chavan highlighted how it was crucial for all opposition parties to come together, as divisions between them had facilitated the BJP’S win in 2014, although they had just 30% votes. The former Maharashtra chief minister said the loan waiver announced by the state was owing to the protests by Opposition, but the government could not implement it properly.

Bhujbal praised Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s in-charge for east Uttar Pradesh, for the maturity they have shown after the Pulwama attack by cancelling press conferences and announcing to stand united. He accused the government of “standing by industrialists and with policies against the poor”. The Congress-ncp, along with smaller allies, plan to hold another joint rally at Beed on Saturday.

Although the alliance was expecting at least eight to nine like-minded parties to join the Grand Alliance, they could not succeed to bring Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh; Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Paksha; Communist Party of India (M); and Samajwadi Party (SP) on board. The smaller allies have been demanding more seats than what has been offered by Congress, NCP. Leaders from both parties, however, have expressed confidence of convincing the smaller allies to join the alliance soon.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, too, is scheduled to address his first campaign rally in Maharashtra on March 1. A rally in Dhule in the afternoon will be followed by one in Mumbai.