Raigad (Maharashtra) [India], July 8 : Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said that the political environment in Maharashtra had shifted away from the ideas of Jyotiba Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, and called for a government that followed their ideology to be brought back to power.
Speaking at an event in Raigad, the veteran leader expressed concern that today's political leaders were not showing interest in the principles of these social reformers.
"The political scene of Maharashtra is changing. The political leaders these days don't show interest in the ideas of Jyotiba Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar," Pawar said.
He urged all parties with similar ideologies to unite for the sake of the state's future. "Once again, a government based on the ideas of Jyotiba Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar should come to power in Maharashtra. For this, we have to take Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party, Congress, NCP and other parties together and bring a government of such ideology in Maharashtra," he further added.
Earlier, Pawar said that no final decision had been made yet regarding the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, despite the Supreme Court clearing the way for polls to be held in the state.
Speaking to the mediapersons in Baramati, Pawar said, "We have not decided anything yet about the local body elections. The Supreme Court has given its verdict. Normally, the elections will take 3 months, but we have not discussed it yet."He confirmed that the NCP-SCP, Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), and Kisan Mazdoor Party would soon meet to chart out their strategy."
NCP-SCP, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), Kisan Mazdoor Party will sit together. We want to fight the elections together," he added, signalling a continued commitment to opposition unity in Maharashtra.