Winter session curtain raiser: Government to counter opposition attack with development plank

Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP to make farmers’ unrest common cause in the legislature.

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Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Winter Session from Monday will be a tightrope walk for the BJP as ruling partner Shiv Sena is ready to be combative on floor of the House on farmers’ unrest in Maharashtra.

The Congress and NCP are competing to take up the recurring drought that has stirred the farmers unrest to redefine their identity as the real opposition party in Maharashtra.

MPCC chief Ashok Chavan and state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare demandes a complete loan waiver for farmers and dismissed delay as signs of insensitive government.

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The chief minister will face brickbats on issues from finance to farmers in the session between December 7 and 23. From price rise to pulses and sugar to dairy (milk) opposition has drawn up a list.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will remain firm on the developmental plank to counter the opposition. Whether it is pushing social reforms through legislation or checking exploitation in the name of rituals and rights or spelling out special policy for agro-economics in rural Maharashta, he will spring surprises.

The session will determine the ability of the government in floor management. Fadnavis will have an edge having retained his clean image. But defending ministers who failed in their departments like education, women and child development, agriculture will make his job difficult.

The government believes the “divided Congress-NCP” and “double role” of Shiv Sena will not click. Many in the government as well opposition wonder how Sena can continue to enjoy power and protest on streets against government. Directives from Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to party MLAs is to question the government’s shortcomings in addressing farmers in drought hit districts.
Sources in Sena admit, “The BJP clearly overshadowed Sena in both the centre and the state. If Thackeray has to maintain his identity and leadership, Sena will have to engage against the CM.” However, a section of MLAs will take on government, and ministers will ensure coalition remains intact.

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Leader of the opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said, “There are plenty on our plate when it comes to taking the issue of farmers to a logical end. We can expose government failure on drought policies.”

The NCP will take on the government on farm crisis. It remains to be seen whether Congress-NCP diplays floor coordination. Signs of discord are evident as Congress has planned a farmers rally against the government on December 8. MPCC chief Ashok Chavan, who steered plans, appears to have kept NCP out of the picture.

The NCP is working to expose mismatch of policy decisions and implementation of the government.

Top NCP leaders including Ajit Pawar, Dilip Walse-Patil and Chagan Bhujbal will highlight the conflict within Sena-BJP.

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