A day after Assembly elections in Maharashtra were announced by the Election Commission of India, the Mahayuti held a press conference on Wednesday enumerating its key work over the past two years.
A report card of the Mahayuti’s work, with a special focus on infrastructure projects, welfare schemes such as Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, irrigation projects and incentives for farmers, was released by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
‘Deport card’
But the Opposition hit out with senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh saying the government bore “the dubious distinction of having presided over the wholesale surrender of Maharashtra’s interests”. Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray said the report card could be termed a “deport card”, which showed how everything was being “deported to Gujarat”.
Accusing the Opposition of spreading a “fake narrative”, Mr. Pawar said the focus of the government was to reach out to all communities. “We have tried to give justice to each community. This report reflects the change we have brought in the lives of the people of Maharashtra,” he said.
Mr. Fadnavis slammed the Opposition over allegations of a deterioration of the law and order situation. “Who is telling us about law and order? Those who were involved in scams are telling us about law and order,” he said.
Adding that the Opposition was trying to create a fake narrative that the investments were being sent to Gujarat, he said, “52% of the country’s investment comes to Maharashtra.”
Mr. Fadnavis said farmers have benefited from several schemes, including solar pumps, free electricity, and irrigation projects, and added that the Vadhvan port “will change the dynamics of coastal trade.”
Chief Minister Shinde targeted the MVA for stopping projects during its tenure. Enumerating the achievements of his government, he said, “We are number one in infrastructure. Atal Setu, coastal road, metro train, Samruddhi Highway, missing link project – there are so many projects that are being done on priority. MVA stopped work in its twoand-a-half years of tenure. We completed work with great speed. There was cost escalation of ₹17,000 crore because they stalled work.”
But the Congress hit back. “The Mahayuti government bears the dubious distinction of having presided over the wholesale surrender of Maharashtra’s interests. The Congress and the MVA do not believe in playing favorites – we believe in the equitable development of the entire country,” Mr. Ramesh posted on X.