Nana Patole vows to hold Mahayuti Govt accountable for promises after Maharashtra defeat

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole addressed the press following the results of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Patole made it clear that the Congress party would closely examine the reasons behind its poor performance in the state elections. He emphasized that the party would also ensure the newly elected Mahayuti government fulfills its promises outlined in their election manifesto.

Patole stated that the election results were not only unexpected for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance but also for the people of Maharashtra. He remarked that the public was discussing how the Mahayuti managed to secure such a large victory. However, he refrained from commenting on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) or suggesting any irregularities. "People are discussing how the Mahayuti could manage such a big win. They are confused. We do not want to comment or talk about EVMs, and it is the need of the hour to find out how it all happened, and accordingly, the Congress will take necessary steps," Patole explained during a press conference. He confirmed that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) would be conducting an inquiry into the outcome of the election to understand what went wrong.

The Congress leader also made several demands from the Mahayuti government. Patole particularly focused on the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, which was one of the central promises in the ruling coalition's campaign. He challenged the government to raise the monthly allowance for women under the scheme from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100, as initially promised during the election campaign.

In addition to the women’s welfare scheme, Patole outlined other key issues that he expected the Mahayuti government to address promptly. He urged the government to provide 24-hour electricity to farmers, a promise made during the campaign. Patole also called for the implementation of a ₹6,000 Minimum Support Price (MSP) for soybeans, ₹9,000 for cotton, and a ₹1,000 bonus for paddy cultivators. "We will ensure that the Mahayuti government fulfils the promises it made to farmers during the elections," Patole stated, reiterating his commitment to hold the government accountable.

Patole further emphasized that Congress would work to ensure the government delivers on its promise of job creation for the youth and makes efforts to make Maharashtra free of corruption. He stressed that fulfilling these promises was vital for maintaining public trust and ensuring the well-being of the people of Maharashtra.

The Mahayuti coalition, which consists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's NCP, secured a commanding victory in the election, winning 230 out of 288 seats. The BJP alone claimed 132 seats, while Shiv Sena won 57, and NCP bagged 41 seats. In contrast, the MVA, which includes the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), suffered a major setback, winning just 46 seats. Congress secured 16 seats, while Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20.

Patole himself won the Sakoli assembly seat by a narrow margin of just 208 votes, defeating BJP candidate Avinash Anandrao Brahmankar, who secured 96,587 votes. Independent candidate Dr. Somadatta Karanjekar and VBA candidate Dr. Avinash Raghunath Nanhe secured 18,309 and 11,188 votes, respectively. Patole’s victory came despite a broader trend favoring the Mahayuti coalition in the state. Patole concluded by stressing that Congress would keep a close watch on the performance of the new government and ensure that it honors its commitments to the people, particularly in the areas of women’s welfare, farmers' support, and youth employment.