Mumbai: Taking on Team Anna, Maharashtra
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said it is "amply
clear" that Anna Hazare`s associates want to join politics and
asked them to be open about it.
"If you want to take part in politics, you must join it;
politics will be enriched. It is now amply clear that his
associates want to join politics," Chavan said.
"If they take part in politics directly, participate in
elections, there is nothing wrong in it. However, staying out
(of politics) and tacitly supporting or opposing any party is
not done.
"Instead of this, say publicly that I support such and
such political party, that I support such and such ideology,"
Chavan, who completes a year in office on November 11, told a
Marathi TV channel.
"A clear stance should be taken, whether to contest
elections or to support (someone) in elections. But, there is
no point in taking a negative stance, that if the (Jan Lokpal)
bill is not passed, I will oppose (Congress)," he said.
"If you are opposing somebody by saying such things, you
are also supporting somebody at the same time. However,
thought should also be given to check what type of ideology
and people you are supporting," Chavan said.
"There is nothing wrong in taking a stance that some
political party wins and even campaign for it. But, while
doing so, he should be open," Chavan said.
The chief minister also told journalists here that Hazare
would not have a big impact on the elections of the various
urban local bodies in the state, slated between December this
year and March next year.
"While corruption and price rise will be factors, concerns
over these, have existed even before Hazare started his (Jan
Lokpal) movement," he said, adding Lokpal alone will not weed
out corruption and there is a need for a grand architecture
against corruption.
Chavan also disapproved of the use of emotive issues like
the Marathi versus north Indian debate as a poll plank.
PTI
