Will fight Lok Sabha election in Maharashtra in alliance with 9-10 parties: Congress' Ashok Chavan to WION

Like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Maharashtra is a priority state for the Congress Party where they wish to fight the 2019 elections under the "one constituency, one candidate" proposal.

Maharashtra is a big state and sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

Former chief minister of Maharashtra and state president of the Congress, Ashok Chavan told WION that the Congress would fight the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as part of a large umbrella alliance along with 9 to 10 parties including the NCP.

He added that that would prevent the anti-BJP vote from splitting and that all like-minded parties would be adjusted in the alliance.

Chavan had to resign as Maharashtra CM because of the Adarsh scam but he was subsequently reinstated as Maharashtra PCC chief.

His interview with WION follows:


WION: Has Congress been able to put its house in order?
Ashok Chavan: Our house is in order. Dynamics change in politics, new ideas emerge and new people join the organisation. What we have learnt is that we need to be more careful in managing the expectations of people quickly. In my opinion, speed is the key to the issue of meeting the challenge of expectation by political organisation.

WION: What are the issues Congress Party is zeroing in on?
AC: Farmer distress is a big issue in Maharashtra and is directly linked with agricultural output, loans and pricing policy. The state government has failed on all the fronts. It is for this reason farmers' suicides have taken place in Maharashtra. Another issue is that of unemployment and corruption in the state.

WION: What is your position on an alliance in Maharashtra?
AC: With NCP, we are moving in the right direction. Congress want all like-minded parties like NCP, BSP, Peasant and Worker Party, RPI, Left, SP and groups supported by Prakash Ambedkar to come together. Sharad Pawar has been discussing political situation with Rahul Gandhi and we are working towards stitching an understanding in this direction.

WION: What is the Congress position on reservations for Marathas?
AC: It was a unanimous decision on our part. We wanted the reservation for the community but state government did not represent the case properly in the court hence it was set aside. But we will take up this issue apart from those raised by other communities as well.

WION: The difference between the BJP’s and the Congress' vote share in 2014 was huge. How do you expect to bridge the gap?
AC: 2014 was a different election. People believed in the promises made by Narendra Modi. People expected him to deliver on social and economic fronts. Now people realise that promises will not be kept as they were chunavi jumlas. It is for this reason voting pattern in 2019 will be different from 2014.

WION: This does not solve your problem. Now Shiv Sena-BJP are again coming together?
AC: Let them come together. Didn’t we defeat Shiv Sena-BJP combine again and again? BJP does not need Shiv Sena. The latter needs the BJP. We will defeat both for simple reason that secular vote will not split this time.

WION: Congress did very badly in urban areas. What have you done to retrieve lost ground?
AC: Urban areas have been affected by GST and demonetisation. We will reap the benefit of it. These areas need a different strategy and we have one. BJP is very much dependent on city votes in the state but it does not mean that urban areas don’t vote for the Congress. 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Congress did very well in urban areas.

WION: GST and demonetisation neither worked in Uttar Pradesh nor Gujarat?
AC: It was a year back. Impact of demonetisation and GST are more palpable now. On top it, Maharashtra is suffering from social unrest. Do not forget that under the present dispensation Dalits and minorities have been at the receiving end of the state. Communal harmony is important and will play an important role in the upcoming elections.

WION: Are you the CM candidate?
AC: I’m a worker of the Congress party. Who gets to be the CM, if Congress comes to power, will be decided by the leadership. It will be a party decision. My job is to run the party in the state and I’m doing that.