Maharashtra: Poll issues

In Maharashtra Lok Sabha polls, terrorism will be the top issue, as Mumbai had to face the ghastly terror attacks last year.

Biplob Ghosal

The state is all set for the Lok Sabha elections. Needless to say, terrorism will be the top issue, as Mumbai had to face the ghastly terror attacks last year. The spiraling prices and the anti-incumbency of the United Progressive Alliance government at Centre would be the other issues to decide the voters’ tilt in favour of the different political parties. The state has also been in the eye of storm because of the attacks on North Indians by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Following are some of the issues which are set to be taken up by the different political parties to woo the electorate: Security In recent times the state has been the most vulnerable place in terms of terror strikes. The horror of the 26/11 terror attacks still haunts Mumbaikars and this will certainly be an arresting issue, as it led to the removal of the state Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister. Mumbai has over the last 15 years faced many terror attacks. Some of the devastating ones are the 1993 blasts when 13 bomb explosions killed 257 people and injured 700, the August 25, 2003 twin blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar, the July 11, 2006 serial blasts in local trains that killed 209 people and left over 700 injured and the recent Mumbai terror attacks that claimed nearly 300 lives and left hundreds injured. Since its inception the Congress-led UPA government has witnessed several terror blasts. The party would find it difficult to tell the electorate that it dealt with the problem with an iron hand. People are still angry and it might also prove a setback for the Congress-NCP alliance. Suicides in Vidarbha Vidarbha remains a grim reality of the state, as the agrarian crisis in the region, which has led to the death of hundreds of farmers, will also feature as an important issue in the polls. Most of the farmers have ended their lives due to mounting debts and crop failure. Although the state and the UPA government had announced two relief packages of Rs 4,800 crore, the farmers’ suicide continued and the state government once again announced a package of Rs 6,205 crore. However, all this failed to check farmers’ suicides. The opposition will certainly take this as an opportunity to tarnish the image of the Congress-led government in the state as well at the Centre. MNS’ anti-North Indian tirade The ‘Maratha’ issue will be the most crucial factor in attracting votes. In what seemed to be a replay of the anti-south Indian tirade of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in the 1960s, his nephew Raj Thackeray took up the cause of the Marathi Manoos in 2008. The only difference was that this time, it were the North Indians, who were at the receiving end. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the so-called saviours of Maharashtrians have, from time to time, raised the issue. In the recent past, the state witnessed violent protests in which the North Indian community, eking a living in Maharashtra, had to face the brunt of MNS hooligans across the length and breadth of the state, which even saw Bihar burning in socio-political turmoil. However, it would also turn many voters against them, as during the protests it was seen that even the staunch Mumbaikars were against such a drive. The tactical silence maintained by NCP chief Sharad Pawar and lackadaisical attitude of the then state Chief Minister is stated to have given the MNS a mileage. This would certainly reflect in the North-Indians’ dominated areas of the state. Belgaum issue Maharashtra and Karnataka have been fighting over Belgaum since 1956 when the district was made a part of Karnataka with passing of the States Reorganisation Act. The land of Belgaum on the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka falls under the latter but is being claimed by Shiv Sena as a part of Maharashtra. Recently, Karnataka even held its Legislative Assembly Session in Belgaum and announced to give Belgaum the status of sub-capital. Belgaum, as always, shall this time also figure in the General Elections as the Shiv Sena has more or less made it a prestige issue. Naxalism Naxalism will certainly be a burning issue in the upcoming polls and the opposition will definitely exploit the public outrage over the rising killings. Gadchiroli district which is a stronghold of the Naxalites borders Chhattisgarh and it has witnessed many deadly attacks. In 2008, four police officers were killed in the Rajaram Khanla region of south Gadchiroli. In 2006, seven cops were killed in a landmine blast at Bewartola in Gondia district. In 2005, explosions in Gadchiroli and Gondia districts killed 14 policemen. SEZ and other issues A Special Economic Zone in Raigad, Maharashtra, is at the heart of a political storm, and many farmers seeking dreams and watching Mumbai’s glitter across the sea just switched sides. Raigad is currently represented by Congress warhorse and Minority Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Antulay. His silence on the SEZ issue could yield some surprising results. The spiraling prices, better roads, electricity supply, water supply, more jobs will also feature in the list, though price rise will be the most crucial factor as several people have been laid off due to global recession. Another PM in waiting? Sharad Pawar’s political ambition of standing for the PM’s post has added to confusion and tension within the UPA allies. Although the NCP and Congress have been at loggerheads over the seat adjustment in Maharshtra, and the time when Sharad Pawar decided to take part in the third Front rally in Orissa, but things in the last moments somehow were managed. But the developments also point towards the possibility of Pawar tilting towards any political alliance after elections in which he perceives the possibility of reaching the apex post.