Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appears very confident and is absolutely sure of returning to power after the assembly elections next week. Excerpts of the conversation with him ahead of the crucial polls that the whole nation is watching.
Q. How do you assess the 2024 Assembly elections? What is different from the other Vidhan Sabha elections?
A. Assembly elections are like exams for us. We go to people with our report cards and they assess us based on our performance. All the parties including the big political organizations and even those in power have to follow this procedure. This time, the volume is big. Apart from Shiv Sena there are at least six other political parties and some alliances are contesting the elections. There are several independent candidates also who want to try their luck. That makes a huge lot and that has added spice to the elections. Everybody is waiting to watch the outcome. Elections are not new to me. I have been doing both, to contest and win myself as well as help other win. I have been doing this for a long time. But, yes this is the first time that I am contesting and facing the elections with an added responsibility of the Shiv Sena party chief. In that sense this election is a bit different for me that those I have faced in the past.
Q. The elections are being fought by Mahayuti under your leadership. What are the issues that you are taking before the people?
A. We have been pursuing the development agenda. We want to see a sustainable, quality and all-round development that would bring happiness into the lives of the people. Especially, the yet under-developed areas of the state, small hamlets and even the cities need financial strengthening. Employment and self-employment needs a boost. World class infrastructure and good educational institutions are required. Schemes that would make the farmers self-sufficient and the agriculture independent need to be promoted. Women’s empowerment is yet to be complete. There are several things that we want to accomplish. We are going to people with what we have done and we are sharing our vision with them as to what we want to accomplish.
Q. There was lot of criticism of the Ladki Bahin scheme by the MVA. They said that it would be a strain on exchequer and it will be shut after the elections. Now they have made a similar promise.
A. That is their double-speak. They are confused themselves. They know very well that the scheme is sustainable. But, don’t want to accept it. Yet, when they see the people enthusiastic about the scheme, they are not able to resist themselves from announcing something similar. Basically the scheme is for the benefit of all the downtrodden sections of the deprived classes. There was no need to politicise the issue. But, the opposition lost their cool when they saw the people’s support to the scheme. Initially they tried to create confusion saying that there would be a strain on exchequer. But, when 2.40 crore sisters got the five instalments deposited to their bank accounts, they realized the potential of the scheme and they made a U-turn. This in itself underlines the great success of the scheme. They themselves have made it clear that they opposed the scheme initially out of political insecurity.
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