‘Congmen in Maharashtra feel we would have done far better if we had fought alone’

• The Congress party bargained endlessly in Karnataka for the chief minister’s post even though the mandate was against it, saying...

• The Congress party bargained endlessly in Karnataka for the chief minister’s post even though the mandate was against it, saying it had more seats than the Janata Dal (S) and the Maharashtra formula should be used. Now when the NCP in Maharashtra has got more seats and the popular mandate, you discard the same very formula. So is the Congress nothing but a party of power-hungry people? How can we expect this government in Maharashtra to work for the people? Is politics about a quest for power?
Pranav Sachdeva

The basic difference between the Karnataka and Maharashtra situation was that there was no pre-election alliance with the Janata Dal (S). But in the case of the NCP, we ran the government together for five years, we had a pre-poll alliance, a common manifesto and a joint campaign with a clear understanding that the Congress would lead the alliance. Besides, the Congress tally was 69+5 (74) while the NCP tally was 71+1 (72). The alliance will work to keep its commitment to serve the people of Maharashtra.

• You have formed a government in Maharashtra, but your seat share in the Assembly has touched the lowest-ever mark. Do you think you would have fared better by going it alone in the polls and then entering into a post-poll alliance with the NCP?
Dhananjay Patil

Story continues below this ad

There are many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in alliances. The Congress leaders in Maharashtra believe we would have fared much better if we had fought separately.

• The long-drawn Congress-NCP tussle over chief ministership showed their total distrust of each other. Do you think this game of one-upmanship in full public glare was unavoidable?
Anant Joglekar

Alliances require adjustments and understanding. The Congress-NCP alliance will work together and last its full five-year term.

• You maintained all over the visual media that the people of Maharashtra have voted for the incumbent government. Why did you have to remove the Dalit chief minister then?
Srinjoy kar

Story continues below this ad

Despite ‘anti-incumbency’, which was the favourite theme of the media throughout the campaign, the alliance was voted back. The choice of the leader is the prerogative of the elected representatives.

• What is the final Congress position on a separate Vidarbha state?
Nikhil Kartikar

We will respect the wishes of the people of Vidarbha.

• Would your commitment to supply free electricity to farmers in Maharashtra last the entire five-year term of the government?
Madhuri More

Story continues below this ad

Due to continuous drought, the farmers in Maharashtra have been in distress. They have to be helped to overcome their problems. As the situation improves, the government could review this decision.

• Why doesn’t the Congress high command give a free hand to its chief ministers? Why does Vilasrao Deshmukh have to rush to New Delhi for everything? Why don’t you leave it to him to distribute portfolios to his ministers according to their potential?
Shivani Dave

The Congress chief ministers are given a free hand. The Maharashtra Chief Minister came for consultations on many issues. We had to give away two portfolios and three ministerial berths to the NCP. Regional balances had to be maintained and different interest groups included. It was not an easy task.

Undersea cables cut in Red Sea, disrupting internet access in Asia, including India

World41 min ago

Undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea disrupted internet access Sunday in parts of Asia including India, and West East, experts said, though it wasn’t immediately clear what caused the incident.

View all shorts

Live Blog