In Kolhapur, INDIA bloc likely to face local body elections together says Cong MLC Satej Patil
Kolhapur: Congress MLC Satej Patil has confirmed that the INDIA bloc parties will contest the upcoming local body elections in Kolhapur as a unified force.
The elections for local bodies in Kolhapur district are slated for Sept-Oct.
The alliance partners — comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and left parties — have started their preparations at the booth level.
Following a preliminary meeting with INDIA representatives in Kolhapur on Friday evening, Satej Patil indicated a 90-95% likelihood of contesting jointly. He noted that Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal recently consulted with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray regarding Congress's stance in the forthcoming local body elections.
He observed the state administration has lost its financial direction, and women previously addressed as "ladki" have seen reduced benefits.
"The elections for Kolhapur and Ichalkaranji municipal corporations, ZP, and town councils will be held after the rains. This time, the picture will be different from the assembly elections. Ladki Bahin saved Mahayuti from defeat; however, for govt, the sisters are no longer considered 'ladki'.
Funds need to be arranged to save the scheme by curtailing funds from other departments. State govt is planning to hand out loans to the Ladki Bahin beneficiaries so that govt can refrain from paying the monthly dole.
Instead, the banks will receive the amount once a year," said Patil.
The Congress MLC said state govt's total debt burden has reached Rs 9.5 lakh crore, approaching Rs 10 lakh crore. "The three parties in govt have failed to plan the finances of the state. The Mahayuti MLAs are still ignorant of the problems faced by the people. We raised our voice, and only after that did state govt start assessing the damages caused by the recent floods and heavy rain. With all these issues, we are going to face the elections, and we are hopeful of winning in all local bodies," added Patil.
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