The temperatures are soaring with mercury crossing 40 degrees mark at many places in the state. There is acute shortage of drinking water, animal fodder is scarce, the dam water levels reaching the bottom, and all the state bureaucracy, ministries, and politicians are wholeheartedly engaged in Loksabha elections with total neglect.

In Latur local bus service has been halted for a week as payments are not made. In Pune Muncipal Corporation, more than 1000 staff workers are engaged in election duties, halting general administration. In Mumbai, there is only 27% water left now, and in the state, the dam water levels dropped below 35 percent. Urban,rural, and livestock populations are all threatened by water scarcity.

The ruling political parties and the leaders of all political hues and of other opposition political parties, all seen talking their hearts out accusing opposite political leaders and vindication their roles and attitudes, but there is no concern about the prevalent conditions in the state which is making life difficult for common people.

Coming back to Loksabha, What more appropriate time would therebe for a bold politician like Sanjay Nirupam to burst explosively accusing Shivsena -Udhav Thackeray faction MP and star campaigner Sanjay Raut’s involvement in the ‘Khichadi’ Scam and to attain appropriate timely entry into Shivsena-(Eknath Shinde).

Earlier, Vishal Patil – the scion of former Maharashtra chief minister Vasantdada Patil’s family and a strong Congress contender for Sangli Loksabha seat – expressed his anguish and determination over the drama in Congress, Shivsena (Udhav Thackeray)and NCP  (Sharad Pawar) about the seat allotment.

He talked eloquently,  humbly,diplomatically, creating the right sense by picking up historical threads and using them in a matter of fact style. Some excerpt from his press conference – There was only my name as a candidate from Sangli constituency, and Vishwajit Kadam has made it very clear. We have worked very hard to make people aware of Sangli about the lackluster and hopeless work of BJP and the present BJP MP. All was going smoothly until Shivsena unexpectedly and suddenly declared a candidate from my constituency.

And even before the seat allotment in the alliance is completed, Sanjay Raut came crashing in and started asserting Shivsena’s claim over the seat. I am not opposing Sanjay Raut. We Congressmen are also anti BJP and of progressive thinking. We watch him regularly, and listening to him provides energy and inspiration to us. It should be remembered that Vasantdada Patil even before becoming chief minister of Maharashtra tried to build Marathi unity in Mumbai and raise his voice against the suppression of ‘ Marathi Manus’ (in the then Bombay.) He helped Shivsena and had close contracts with  late Balasaheb Thackeray.

I feel sorry that the Marathi voice Sangli lent to Shivsena is utilized against Sangli. What he said about Vishwajit Kadam was inappropriate and raising suspicions about alliance ethics. The subject of seat allotment amongst the political parties in an alliance should have been discussed behind closed doors. Why is it blown out of proportion publicly? Why did he come here before the seat allotment is finalized and spent 2-3 days? Now, being here, he would have understood to whom Sangli backs. 

8 villages in the Karad region of western Maharashtra are boycotting the elections and will not vote as they aren’t allowed to use water by lift irrigation.

Latest seat distribution in MAHAVIKAS AGHADI

Congress – 17  , Shivsena (Udhav Thackeray) – 21, NCP ( Sharad Pawar)

Congress – Nandurbar,Dhulia,Akola, Amaravati, Nagpur,Bhandara,Gordian,Gadchiroli,Chandrapur,Nanded,Jaana,Mumbai- North Central, Pune,  Solapur,Kolhapur, Ramtek

Rashtravadi Sharad Pawar faction – Baramati,Shirur,Satara,Bhivandi,Madhya,Dindori,Raver,Vardha,Ahmednagar-South,Beed

Shivsena- Udhav Thackeray faction- Jalgaon,Parabhani,Nashik,Palghar,Kalyan,Thane,Raigad,Maval, Dharashiv,Ratnagiri, Buldhana,Hatkanangale, Sambhajinagar, Shirdi, Sangli, Hingoli, Yavatmal, Vashim,Mumbai-South Central, North West, Mumbai-North South Eshanya.

Notes: Shri.Vishal Patil ,Sangli Congress candidate, as per the TV News channel’s reporting, has become ‘unreachable’, and silence prevails at  Congress office in Sangli. Speculations are rife.

Congress regional president Nana Patole said that the main aim of the alliance is to defeat BJP, and leaders have to sacrifice, keeping this larger aim in the mind. Udhav Thackeray also said that leaders have to keep their political ambitions aside for a while.