Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar expressed a belief that the political scenario in the country is not conducive to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the nation approaches the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at an NCP conclave in Shirdi, Maharashtra, Pawar dismissed the BJP’s claim of securing over 400 seats, highlighting the party’s absence in several states.
Addressing NCP workers, the former Union minister asserted that after assuming power in 2014, the BJP made numerous announcements and assurances but failed to implement them, leading to disillusionment among the people.
“People have now started realizing this,” Pawar remarked, emphasizing the evolving public sentiment.
According to Pawar, the current political situation does not favor the BJP, a sentiment echoed by the NCP, which is part of the national-level opposition INDIA alliance.
Pawar took a dig at BJP leaders’ ambitious target of winning over 400 Lok Sabha seats out of a total of 543, highlighting that the party is currently not in power in several states across the country. States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi, Punjab, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand are mentioned as regions where the BJP is not in a position of authority.
The veteran politician criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing unfulfilled promises related to doubling farmers’ income by 2022, providing ‘pucca’ houses to those without homes in urban areas, and the ambitious target of achieving a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. Pawar commented that India’s economy is not even close to 50 percent of that target, emphasizing that the Prime Minister’s guarantees often go unfulfilled.
Pawar also addressed the concerns of the younger generation, noting their unease due to rising unemployment. He referenced the December 13 Parliament security breach and criticized the suspension of opposition members who sought to understand the motivations behind the incident and demanded statements from the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
The NCP founder highlighted the unaffordability of fuel prices for common citizens, pointing to the economic challenges faced by the populace.
In his address, Pawar painted a picture of a political landscape where the BJP’s dominance is diminishing, and the promises made during their tenure have fallen short of expectations. As part of the opposition INDIA alliance, the NCP is positioning itself to capitalize on the perceived disenchantment with the ruling party.
As the Lok Sabha polls approach, Sharad Pawar’s comments reflect the ongoing political dynamics, where issues such as economic concerns, unfulfilled promises, and challenges faced by the younger generation are becoming focal points in the discourse. The political landscape seems to be evolving, and opposition parties are actively engaging in shaping the narrative ahead of the upcoming elections.
