Prithviraj Chavan: ‘Devendra Fadnavis all out to defeat me… I believe he has it tough in Nagpur seat’

The Indian Express caught up with Chavan during his campaign, where he spoke about his chances, the internal dynamics of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the Ladki Bahin Yojana, among other issues. Excerpts:

You are contesting your third Assembly elections. How do you see your chances?

The people are certainly in my favour like they were in the past two elections even as the BJP, especially (Deputy Chief Minister) Devendra Fadnavis, is going all out to ensure my defeat. Even though he has been targeting all senior Congress leaders, including me, I hear that he is in a difficult situation in Nagpur.

The BJP, which is distributing huge amounts of money among the people to buy votes, has fielded the same candidate who has lost the past three elections as he is seen to be close to Fadnavis and is a rich person. This is not a normal election like before.

How do you view the MVA’s chances? Do you think it will return to power?

We will certainly do well as 65% of the people are with us while they (Mahayuti) have the support of only 35%. People have rejected the state government as well as the BJP-led Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

While the Mahayuti claimed it would win over 45 seats in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, the MVA emerged victorious in 31. Nothing has changed since. Inflation has remained high, unemployment continues to trouble the youths, farmers continue to end lives and women’s safety is still an issue. In such a scenario, how do they expect to retain power?

Are you saying the Mahayuti stands no chance?

Certainly, the figures speak for themselves. We won 31 Lok Sabha seats and lost a couple by narrow margins. If we extrapolate the Lok Sabha results, the MVA is ahead in 160 seats. Our alliance is firm and united.

But the different voices of leaders of the three parties highlight internal rifts. The MVA does not seem as united as it was during parliamentary polls. Is everything fine between MVA allies?

During seat-sharing, individual candidates and parties lock horns as each party prioritises its candidates. One may say things do not seem like they were during the Lok Sabha polls but it is a matter of perception. MVA leaders are fighting unitedly. There are no fights within the alliance, except for one or two cases.

How is the Congress placed across the state?

We will do well across Maharashtra. (In the Lok Sabha polls) We won several seats in Vidarbha and the MVA did well in Marathwada too. The (Manoj) Jarange-Patil factor will prove to be vital in the Assembly polls too.

Is Jarange-Patil backing the MVA?

He has been targeting the BJP and Fadnavis. He has also accused the Deputy CM of denying reservation to Marathas, who showed their anger against the Mahayuti during the Lok Sabha elections. Though Jarange-Patil has taken a different stand this time, he has given the community to choose or reject anyone.

He wants to defeat those candidates or parties which did not support the Maratha cause. Therefore, I think the MVA will benefit from this in some districts of Marathwada.

Don’t you think the Ladki Bahin Yojana will swing votes in favour of the Mahayuti?

I do not think that the mood of the people can be reversed in six months. The anti-government view of the people, which was seen during the Lok Sabha elections, will continue in the Assembly polls too. The Ladki Bahin Yojana will just make a small difference, not an earth-shattering one.

Being a senior Congress leader and a former CM, do you think Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar discuss poll strategies and other issues with you?

Yes. They do, especially in matters regarding manifesto or withdrawing candidates. Each one is busy with their own party but whenever they find time, they do call.

What has been the highlight of your tenure as MLA?

If you cross-check, you will find Malkapur, which falls in my constituency, is the only city in the entire state which has a round-the-clock water supply. People here pay water charges through an automatic meter and get water even on the fifth floor. The water is lifted from the Koyna river, filtered and then stored in a tank. The entire area is now prosperous.

We have 93 villages in the constituency and we plan to cover all of them. When I was CM, I had the opportunity to bring several projects to the constituency but subsequently, efforts were made to stall them. However, I got them implemented through my personal connections.

If the MVA wins majority and the Congress emerges as the largest party, will you be in the CM race as the Sena (UBT) seems to be at odds with the Maharashtra Congress chief, Nana Patole?

Our party does not work like that. If we emerge as the single largest party, a team of observers will come from Delhi and take into account the views of the MLAs. A Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader will be elected, who will be the CM. Each person has his strengths and weaknesses. We need to find a young leader.

Will you take over the mantle if Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge or Sonia Gandhi asks you to?

Let us not count chickens before they hatch.

You are 78 years old. Any plans of retirement?

I am contesting polls because I want to serve people, who love. I am happy whether or not I get any responsibility in the party.

So, this is not your last election?

If I had sat out this election, the BJP would have encroached upon Karad taluka and Satara district. Regarding the question of the last election, let us see if there will be elections in the next six months or a year. You cannot predict anything about the Modi government.