BJP will tell voters electing MVA not in interest of Maharashtra: Bawankule

Mumbai, Jul 20 (PTI) Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Saturday said his party will go to voters with the appeal that electing the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP), would not be in the interest of the state.

The MVA would stop welfare schemes of the state and Union governments, Bawankule claimed in a press conference here. He also asked the opposition bloc to clarify if it would extend the OBC (Other Backward Classes) quota to Marathas.

Speaking about the daylong convention of the state BJP scheduled to be held in Pune on Sunday, he said Union minister Nitin Gadkari will address the inaugural session and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will helm the second session.

Former Union minister Raosaheb Danve will initiate discussion on the resolution on the state and national political scenario, while Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar will move the resolution congratulating the state government for its budget, which seeks the welfare of all, he said.

The deliberations at the event will also include organisational matters and how the party’s 35 lakh functionaries should work to ensure government welfare schemes reach all 97,000 booths, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will also address the meeting on the performance of the state government, Bawankule said.

The BJP will appeal to people to not vote for the MVA, Bawankule said, adding welfare measures of the Narendra Modi government were stopped by the Uddhav Thackeray dispensation.

“If the MVA returns to power, it will stop the Ladki Bahin Yojana (under which eligible women will get Rs 1,500 per month), the free distribution of three LPG cylinders, free electricity for farmers, crop insurance at one rupee and free ration being given by the Modi government,” Bawankule claimed.

Maharashtra assembly polls are likely to be held in October.

“It was during MVA rule that the Maratha reservation was struck down by the Supreme Court. The MVA’s only agenda is to stop all welfare measures of the Modi and the Mahayuti governments,” he charged.

The BJP leader asked the MVA to clarify if it will extend the OBC quota to Marathas.

“Will this promise be mentioned in MVA’s poll manifesto,” he asked.

The Maratha community must get reservation but the BJP has a clear stand that it will not be at the expense of OBCs, he said.

Activist Manoj Jarange has thrust the Maratha quota issue to the centre stage with his demand for the implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as “sage soyare” (blood relatives) of Maratha community members and also a law to identify Marathas as Kunbis, who enjoy quota benefits under the OBC category.

However, OBC members are opposed to this demand on the grounds that it will dilute their quota.

“The reservation given to Marathas by Devendra Fadnavis when he was the chief minister was upheld in the Bombay High Court. But due to the incompetence of former CM Uddhav Thackeray, the Maratha community lost reservation,” he said.

MVA has always taken a dubious stand on reservation. “MVA leaders are liars,” he added.