State BJP chief blames NCP for delay in local body polls

Nashik: Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday blamed NCP for the delay in the local body polls in the state. Bawankule, who was in Malegaon, was asked by reporters about the delay in the elections. When they pointed out that the opposition has been challenging the BJP to conduct elections, but the party is delaying the polls, Bawankule asked, “Who was saying so?” He then added, “NCP leader Ajit Pawar should be able to answer the question better.” Bawankule said, “There are three cases currently in the Supreme Court that are delaying the elections. NCP leader from Pune had moved the apex court, and we do not have any role in this.” One of the three cases pertains to the OBC reservation on which the Supreme Court had announced a stay. The second case is on the delimitation of wards, while the third one is about increasing the number of seats in municipal councils. “The number of seats in the councils is based on the census. If there is no fresh census, there can be no change in the number. However, the past MVA government had increased the number of seats without a census. Therefore, the current government has reinstated the old number. This is now being challenged, and that has led to the delay,” said Bawankule. The state BJP chief also rubbished the doubts raised on the working of the EVMs. “By raising baseless doubts about electronic voting machines, these people are misleading citizens. We do not question the EVMs. But they (the opposition politicians) raise such doubts whenever they lose,” said Bawankule. When asked if BJP is changing its plans to factor in the Muslim community, Bawankule said Congress and NCP have, for the past 65 years, used the community as an election tool. “There is no evidence to suggest that BJP has ever taken any step against a particular community. As the Muslims are now attracted to BJP because of the various works taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, the opposition is now afraid. They are creating confusion in the minds of the people, misleading them and portraying BJP wrongly,” said Bawankule. On NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s criticism of chief minister Eknath Shinde and council of ministers’ Ayodhya visit, the BJP veteran said: “The government does not stop functioning. The Ayodhya tour was pre-planned. It was not thought of to run away from responsibilities. People act according to their faith and that should not be questioned. Immediately after returning home, the CM went to Nashik and the deputy CM went to Marathwada to visit the farmers.”