Sapkal says no more excuses now; Bawankule calls SC ruling a moment of justice
Nagpur: With the Supreme Court on Tuesday directing the Maharashtra govt to hold elections to all local self-government bodies within four months, the stage is set for long-pending polls. While state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal warned Mahayuti against further delaying tactics, BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule welcomed the judgment as a much-awaited democratic milestone."The Supreme Court has spoken. The govt must now stop searching for escape routes and immediately restore the democratic rights of citizens by conducting local body elections," Sapkal said. "The 73rd Constitutional Amendment created a decentralised power structure through panchayati raj. But over the past several years, the state functioned without elected representatives at the grassroots level. This wasn't accidental — it was deliberate. The BJP's obsession with centralised control, both under Modi-Shah at the Centre and Fadnavis in the state, stalled these polls," he alleged.Describing the ruling as a victory for the Constitution and the people, Sapkal added, "Now that the apex court has stepped in, the govt must act without delay and restore dignity to democratic institutions like municipal corporations and panchayats."Bawankule, meanwhile, celebrated the judgment as a morale boost for party workers and a reaffirmation of judicial fairness. "We've all been waiting for this day for the last three years. Today, the top court returned the rightful opportunity to our grassroots workers, who tirelessly serve society with devotion. There is joy on every worker's face," he said.The city's guardian minister connected the decision with the govt's development narrative, stating, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to build a developed India, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is steering Maharashtra towards that vision. These elections will accelerate that momentum."Highlighting the leadership of Fadnavis, Bawankule said the CM consistently consulted legal experts to find a resolution to this issue, and today, his efforts bore fruit. "These upcoming elections will lend momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India and the Chief Minister's vision of a progressive Maharashtra."Referring to the recent central govt decision to conduct a caste-based census, Bawankule said that today's judicial verdict similarly fulfills the expectations and aspirations of the people.Referring to the state cabinet meeting held earlier in the day in the historic town of Choundi in Ahilyanagar district — birthplace of Ahilyabai Holkar — Bawankule said, "It's symbolic that this judgment was delivered while we were in Choundi. Justice has truly been served from this sacred land."Nagpur: With the Supreme Court on Tuesday directing the Maharashtra govt to hold elections to all local self-government bodies within four months, the stage is set for long-pending polls. While state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal warned Mahayuti against further delaying tactics, BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule welcomed the judgment as a much-awaited democratic milestone."The Supreme Court has spoken. The govt must now stop searching for escape routes and immediately restore the democratic rights of citizens by conducting local body elections," Sapkal said. "The 73rd Constitutional Amendment created a decentralised power structure through panchayati raj. But over the past several years, the state functioned without elected representatives at the grassroots level. This wasn't accidental — it was deliberate. The BJP's obsession with centralised control, both under Modi-Shah at the Centre and Fadnavis in the state, stalled these polls," he alleged.Describing the ruling as a victory for the Constitution and the people, Sapkal added, "Now that the apex court has stepped in, the govt must act without delay and restore dignity to democratic institutions like municipal corporations and panchayats."Bawankule, meanwhile, celebrated the judgment as a morale boost for party workers and a reaffirmation of judicial fairness. "We've all been waiting for this day for the last three years. Today, the top court returned the rightful opportunity to our grassroots workers, who tirelessly serve society with devotion. There is joy on every worker's face," he said.The city's guardian minister connected the decision with the govt's development narrative, stating, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to build a developed India, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is steering Maharashtra towards that vision. These elections will accelerate that momentum."Highlighting the leadership of Fadnavis, Bawankule said the CM consistently consulted legal experts to find a resolution to this issue, and today, his efforts bore fruit. "These upcoming elections will lend momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India and the Chief Minister's vision of a progressive Maharashtra."Referring to the recent central govt decision to conduct a caste-based census, Bawankule said that today's judicial verdict similarly fulfills the expectations and aspirations of the people.Referring to the state cabinet meeting held earlier in the day in the historic town of Choundi in Ahilyanagar district — birthplace of Ahilyabai Holkar — Bawankule said, "It's symbolic that this judgment was delivered while we were in Choundi. Justice has truly been served from this sacred land."
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