The gloves have come off this campaign season, and the issues being raised for the state assembly elections is likely to leave a sensible section of voters confused. The allegations, clarifications and counter allegations have only raised a cacophony of electioneering and not the level of debate for the future of the state.

It seemed that the decision to fight assembly polls separately would come as an opportunity for voters to choose and pick the right candidates but it is appalling to see the front runners in state politics engaging in verbal duels over language, region, class and creed. This has left behind quality debate on party manifestos or vision documents released by political parties. BJP is on a damage control exercise and seems to have forgotten to publish its manifesto and vision document. Neither the Congress nor the NCP appears to be keen to debate what they are trying to accomplish through their manifestos. Their leaders seem to be enjoying the political banter between Sena, BJP and MNS leaders over the issue of Marathi vs Gujarati, unified Maharashtra vs a separate Vidarbha.