Addressing the press, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said that political parties were focusing on language and identity instead of development
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said that a race for polarisation is underway. File Pic/X
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Tuesday said that the next mayor of Mumbai would be 'Bharatiya, Maharashtrian and a Mumbaikar', in an apparent response to recent remarks by CM Devendra Fadnavis on the linguistic identity of the city’s mayor, reported the PTI.
Sapkal made the statement while releasing the Congress manifesto for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections.
The manifesto outlines the party’s vision of a 'Clean and Smart Nagpur' and sets a target of winning 100 corporator seats.
Political parties focusing on language and identity
Addressing the press, Sapkal said that political parties were focusing on language and identity instead of development.
“A race for polarisation is underway. India’s idea of unity in diversity is being weakened. There is talk about whether the mayor should belong to a particular language group, but no discussion on development,” he said, according to the PTI.
He questioned the status of the Centre’s promise of 100 smart cities, alleging that such identity-based debates were being used to divert attention from real public issues.
Mayor should represent all citizens of Mumbai
Reacting to claims by different parties that the BMC mayor would belong to a specific linguistic group -- Marathi, Hindi or Urdu-speaking -- Sapkal reiterated that Congress believes the mayor should represent all citizens of Mumbai.
NOTA option in wards
On the issue of uncontested victories in civic wards, Sapkal said the Congress had written to the State Election Commission seeking fresh elections in wards where Mahayuti candidates were elected unopposed. He also repeated the demand for allowing the NOTA option in such wards.
BJP indulging in arrogant and uncultured politics: Sapkal
Commenting on Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan’s remarks about former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sapkal strongly criticised the statement, calling Deshmukh a towering leader whose contribution to the state was immense. He accused the BJP leadership of indulging in arrogant and uncultured politics under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Congress performed well in recent civic polls, says Sapkal
Sapkal said the Congress had performed well in recent Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections and expressed confidence that the party would regain the mayor’s post in Nagpur. He added that the Congress had completed its ticket distribution process across Maharashtra in a disciplined and dispute-free manner, the news agency reported.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for the next day.
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(with PTI inputs)
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