Desperate to consolidate its position in Maharashtra’s opposition space, the Congress on Monday mounted an offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party's claim that it was in touch with several Congress and National Congress Party legislators who are looking to switch over. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Manikrao Thakre dared the ruling BJP to lure even a single Congress MLA and get him re-elected on BJP ticket. “Poach one acting legislator from the Congress and the NCP, and get them reelected,” said Thakre, issuing a challenge to his BJP counterpart Raosaheb Danve Patil. "There is tremendous resentment against the BJP in rural areas for its non-performance and neglect of farmers issues. I dare the BJP to lure away a single Congress MLA and get him re-elected on BJP ticket. If it is done, I am willing to pay any price for it," Thakre said at a press conference here. The state Congress president also hinted that Danve, who is a BJP MP, had other thoughts when he was not inducted into the central ministry. "We know what his condition was when he was not considered for the ministerial berth," Thakre said. He said Congress organised the 'rasta roko' agitation across the state today to protest against the "dismal" performance of the BJP-led government in the last 100 days. "They have failed to fulfil a single pre-poll promise and ignored the interests of the farming community," Thakre alleged. Thakre also said international crude prices have come down by 65 per cent. "Accordingly, diesel prices have not been reduced by the government. The benefit has been given to the oil companies and not consumers. Diesel prices should have been less than Rs 30 (per litre)," he said. When asked about NCP chief Sharad Pawar's statement in Pune yesterday that Congress will fade away into irrelevance and NCP should step in to take the opposition seats, Thakre asked, "Is NCP an opposition party? We are on the streets highlighting issues concerning people. It is the NCP's responsibility to wipe out the doubts about their intentions."
