Wadettiwar says Mahayuti's days numbered after MVA wins graduates' constituency polls

Nagpur: Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the Mahayuti government after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won the Legislative Council graduates' constituency elections. He claimed the result should open the eyes of a BJP intoxicated with power. According to Wadettiwar, the anger over the issues of youth and farmers was visible in this election. "The days of the Mahayuti government's return have begun. From the land of the Sangh itself, the youth have given the BJP the slogan of 'Go Back'," he said.

Wadettiwar said the MVA won three graduates' constituencies. He said the MVA won in constituencies where turnout was higher, while the Mahayuti won where turnout was low. In his view, the result expresses public anger and people's sentiment against the arrogance of power. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said both had been forced to delete their tweets.

On the recriminations among the Mahayuti constituents, Wadettiwar said sarcastically that all he could say was "stay happy". He said these parties had come together only to stay in power and were now engaged in squabbling.

Referring to the Supreme Court's decision on local self-government elections, Wadettiwar raised the issue of OBC reservation. He claimed that OBC political representation was being affected and that his party had lost about 60 per cent of its seats in gram panchayats. He also expressed fear that the OBC community would suffer in the coming zilla parishad elections.

Wadettiwar said the government had categorically said that reservation would not be reduced, but no final resolution had emerged so far and several petitions were pending. He said he had no objection to elections, but the OBC community must get its due reservation quota. He said that if elections were being held with reduced OBC representation, the government's stance was anti-OBC.

Questioning the transparency of the election process, Wadettiwar once again demanded that all elections be held by ballot paper. He said the government should decide to hold voting by ballot paper to clear the confusion in the public's mind about EVMs. He claimed that if this was done, the Modi government would suffer a major political jolt.

On a statement by BJP MLA Nitesh Rane, Wadettiwar said his political understanding was limited. According to him, the result in the Nagpur graduates' constituency reflects the impact of voting against the BJP. He also claimed that had it not been for Nitesh Karale, Abhijit Wanjari would have been elected in the first round itself.

Wadettiwar said Abhijit Wanjari had consistently raised the questions of youth, the unemployed and the general public in the Legislative Council. For this reason, voters recognised the need for him and elected him. He said the win was a verdict of people's power against money power and the arrogance of power.

Wadettiwar said Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc had launched a fight to save democracy in the country. He expressed confidence that a large number of people would join the agitation in Delhi on the first. He also said the INDIA bloc was preparing an impeachment move, demanding the removal of the Election Commissioners from office. According to him, the fight would continue over alleged irregularities in the election process and the autonomy of democratic institutions.

Wadettiwar claimed that the Legislative Council election result signals public anger against the Mahayuti government. On this basis, he targeted the ruling parties on the coming local self-government elections, OBC reservation and EVMs.