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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Fire missing in Maharashtra legislature’s business

Mumbai: Outside the imposing gates of the state legislature, Mumbai is literally burning. The India Meteorological Department has issued heatwave alerts, with temperatures in parts of the state touching a blistering 42.5° Celsius. Mumbaikars are sweltering under a relentless sun, scrambling for shade, and grappling with the earliest, most aggressive summer heatwave in over a decade. Yet, step inside the Legislative Assembly, and the contrast is as chilling as it is baffling. While the city...

Fire missing in Maharashtra legislature’s business

Mumbai: Outside the imposing gates of the state legislature, Mumbai is literally burning. The India Meteorological Department has issued heatwave alerts, with temperatures in parts of the state touching a blistering 42.5° Celsius. Mumbaikars are sweltering under a relentless sun, scrambling for shade, and grappling with the earliest, most aggressive summer heatwave in over a decade. Yet, step inside the Legislative Assembly, and the contrast is as chilling as it is baffling. While the city sweats, the House remains lifeless, deserted, and devoid of any political fire. The budget session, traditionally the most critical forum for holding the government accountable, has unfolded as a subdued, almost ghost-like affair. For the majority of the day, the benches wear a desolate look, reflecting a legislative paralysis that is starkly disconnected from the heated reality of the state outside. There are no spirited debates, no frantic floor management, and no major announcements addressing the public’s mounting crises. Instead, the political discourse has been reduced to a lukewarm blame game. Lack Of Momentum Senior minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, clearly unimpressed by the state of affairs, pointed a finger at the opposition for the lack of momentum. “Actually, it is the Opposition that drives the debates and discussions in the house during the session. But it appears as if they have lost the drive to do so,” Vikhe-Patil remarked. The opposition, however, claims the fire has been extinguished by the government’s own indifference. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil countered by highlighting the absence of leadership at the very top. “The CM is hardly there in the house,” Patil said, further accusing the ruling coalition of actively dodging debates on issues that matter to the common people—people who are currently bearing the brunt of both inflation and an unforgiving summer. Cold Opposition The irony of the situation is most evident in how “cold” the opposition has remained regarding “hot” scandals. The investigating agency has submitted its inquiry report into the controversial Rs 295-crore Pune land deal involving Amadea Enterprises, a firm linked to newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar. In any functional, high-intensity session, this would have triggered a political earthquake. Instead, the opposition has maintained a deafening silence. Neither have they demanded that the report be tabled, nor have they pressed for action. It is a political ice age in the middle of a literal heatwave. Political observers note that the treasury benches are content with the silence, as no government wants to voluntarily fan the flames of a controversy involving their own. But, the opposition’s refusal to act exposes a deeper, structural rot. Senior NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal offered a blunt diagnosis for this apathy - the opposition is “completely demoralized,” he said adding that consecutive electoral defeats in assembly and local body polls have shattered their morale, and their miniscule numbers in the House, compounded by toxic internal differences, have rendered them impotent. As the mercury climbs outside, the legislature remains trapped in a deep freeze of inertia. The state’s politicians are seemingly oblivious to the irony: while Maharashtra burns under an intense heatwave, the very institution designed to generate the “heat” of democracy has completely lost its spark.

Electoral Illumination

As Maharashtra gears up for its Assembly elections on November 20, an unusual harmony looms between the ‘Festival of Democracy’ and the ‘Festival of Lights.’ The rare coinciding of Diwali with the election season underscores a unique opportunity for reflection, choice and renewal. This festive intersection invites voters to participate in the democratic process with the same zeal with which they approach Diwali, a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, wisdom over ignorance, and light over darkness. Much like the ‘diya’ that illuminates each household during Diwali, the ballot each voter casts will shine a light on the direction Maharashtra will take in the years ahead.


The stakes in this Assembly election are substantial, as is the anticipation. Maharashtra’s politicians, both from the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as well as the smaller parties, are vigorously competing to capture the public’s imagination, rolling out grand visions and promises for the state’s progress and development. Against a Diwali backdrop, campaigning has taken on a celebratory tone, a blend of hopeful pageantry and political manoeuvring. Yet, amid the banners, rallies, and slogans, the electoral landscape is also marked by competing challenges: inflation, unemployment, agricultural distress and the ever-present concerns about infrastructure and governance.


As politicians court the public with fervour, every citizen in Maharashtra must remember their indispensable role. Voting is not simply a civic duty; it is a moral imperative. Just as Diwali invites self-reflection on one’s actions and relationships, so too does election season call for introspection about the society one wishes to shape. Apathy, often creeping in on election day, is Maharashtra’s greatest adversary. To forego voting is to abdicate one’s stake in the future. Much as Diwali lights every corner of the home, so must every eligible citizen make their way to the polling booth, illuminating the path forward with collective will.


There is, of course, a cautionary tale embedded in this coincidence. Diwali’s bounty can sometimes blind people to the superficial shine of appearances, and elections are prone to similar illusions. As candidates pledge sweeping reforms and promise a brighter tomorrow, voters must look beyond the gleam of grandstanding and weigh each party’s record against its rhetoric. Maharashtra’s electorate must be clear-eyed about the transformative potential of their vote and not be swept away by the bombast of electoral fireworks.


And so, as Diwali celebrations ring through the state, Maharashtra is offered a rare alignment of festivals. The triumph of the ballot, like the flame of the ‘diya,’ will be a testament to the power of choice, enlightenment, and resilience. In a world often divided and polarized, the simultaneous celebration of Diwali and democracy is a heartening reminder of the values shared by both. May the electorate carry this torch forward, lighting the way toward a brighter, more prosperous future for Maharashtra.

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