Congress Chief calls for President’s rule in Maharashtra

Maharashtra Congress Chief, Nana Patole, demanded the dismissal of the Eknath Shinde-led government and the imposition of President’s rule in the state, claiming administrative paralysis amidst escalating intra-coalition disputes.
Patole, in a press meet on Wednesday, alleged the ruling coalition was plagued by internal struggles over ministerial positions and portfolios.
He emphasised the dire situation, stating that governmental functionality has ground to a halt, rendering the state unable to adequately address key issues such as rising inflation and agricultural distress.
According to Patole, the state’s administration has proved inefficient, leading to an increasing number of farmer suicides due to lack of assistance despite unseasonal rains. “This is a failing government on all fronts,” he said, calling for a change in leadership through the implementation of the President’s rule. Presently, Maharashtra is governed by a coalition of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar.
Furthermore, Patole accused the BJP of employing divisive tactics to weaken opposition parties, charging that a strategy scripted by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah was being played out in the state. Referring to rumours of defections from his party, he vehemently dismissed them, stating, “Some people are consciously spreading rumours, but there are no traitors in Congress.”
The Maharashtra Congress Chief further asserted that the BJP was attempting to dismantle the opposition using the force of power. He expressed confidence that such attempts would fail, as the common people did not favour the BJP’s politics. He closed his remarks with a critique of the BJP’s alliance partners, accusing them of political opportunism and betrayal.