As Game Of Thrones In Maharashtra Continues, Governance Takes A Hit

It has been more than two weeks since the Maharashtra assembly polls results were declared, but there is still no clarity on who will rule the state for the next five years.

The BJP which won 105 seats (17 seats less than 2014) of the 288 seats, is struggling to form a government in the absence of 40 seats to reach the halfway mark of 145. The BJP fought the election in alliance with Shiv Sena.

Since October 24, the day the results were declared, Shiv Sena has been playing hardball. Shiv Sena has demanded the chief minister’s chair and in no mood to negotiate. Shiv Sena is reminding the BJP of the 50:50 formula two parties agreed upon in February 2019, before the Lok Sabha Election. Sena has also stood its ground for the CM’s post.

However, the BJP has already said that the NDA government in Maharashtra will be formed under Devendra Fadnvis.

But in the meantime governance has taken a back seat in the ongoing political impasse. Both the parties are so starstruck with the CM’s chair that people’s interests have become secondary.

Here are some issues in Maharashtra that need immediate attention.

PMC Depositors

After the scam worth Rs 4,355 at Punjab and Maharashtra Co-Operation (PMC) came to light, people are in despair.

The thought of losing their life’s saving have already claimed the lives of nine PMC depositors. With no assurance from the state government, it is pushing the common people who have saved their hard-earned money into a profound misery.

The Fadnavis led BJP party in the state before going to polls had said that the government will explore various options for the merger of PMC bank with other banks to give some respite to the depositors. Fadnavis had earlier spoken to the Prime Minister and finance minister regarding the merger and said will contact them again after the polls. However, as of now, nothing has happened.

Farmers In Distress

Maharashtra is one of the most important crop-producing states in the country. Insufficient rains, multiple flash floods, low Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for the farmers, and the burden of loans have almost taken the lives of 12,000 farmers in the last three years as per government’s report.

The bickering over the post of CM between both the parties failed to pay heed to the damaged crops due to recent floods in the state. The unseasonal rains have damaged at least 54 lakh hectare standing crop. Crops such as sugarcane, cotton, rice, soybean, tur dal, groundnut which are widely grown in the state were the worst hit due to these floods.

Farmers have demanded immediate Panchnamas to help them avail insurance for their crops and are seeking immediate help, compensation for the crop damage caused by unseasonal rains.

After watching the ongoing political imbroglio, a farmer from the Beed district in Maharashtra had written to the Governor expressing his wish to become the CM as “the Shiv Shena and the BJP are yet to resolve their issue.” The farmer – Srikant Vishnu Gadale, expressing his concern over the unseasonal rains that have hampered the crops in the state, said that Shiv Sena and the BJP are busy in tussling over the CM’s chair.

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