‘State has potential to grow but priorities of growth changed’
   Date :12-Sep-2019

Jayant Patil  
 
 
By Vikas Vaidya :
 
Jayant Patil is President of Maharashtra State Unit of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Patil has emerged as a top leader on his own. He was never termed as ‘Sonrise’ despite having legacy of his father Rajarambapu Patil who himself was a great political leader in his times. Recently, NCP Supremo and political heavyweight Sharad Pawar certified Patil as one who is capable of leading the State. Patil was in Nagpur leading Shiv Swarajya Yatra, a campaign activity of NCP. During his visit to Nagpur he talked to ‘The Hitavada’. He presented the present picture of Maharashtra. He also talked on several aspects of politics, the election scenario, his party’s position, atmosphere of transition etc openly. Here are the excerpts: How do you describe the present picture of Maharashtra? Present Maharashtra has great potential to grow. But the priorities of growth has changed from original one. Unfortunately, those who are deprived, downtrodden like tribals, those from backward class, those who are weak on every front are not taken into consideration.
 
Their health, education everything is being ignored. They are the real stakeholders but Government has completely refused to take care of them. This Government is misleading people by making tall promises. It is focussing on infrastructure, which is a show off. Everything is being invested in big projects with no work moving by an inch. Projects which are unnecessary being forced upon people. Greatest example is of Mumbai-Nagpur project.
 
If you keenly look, you will find no major development visible. During BJP-Sena’s tenure in 1995-99, they created imbalance in every field. It was our Government that came to power and we removed everything. It is we who constituted Indicator Backlog Committee that submitted its report. Then then Governor Dr P C Alexander had made observations which we followed and removed the backlog of Vidarbha and Marathwada, after a proper investment. Unfortunately this Government again hurriedly influencing voters creating infrastructural imbalance. What is the reason for the picture of Maharashtra that you presented? Government has no trust on people. This Government has focussed on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Forcing people to increase electronic use is not a good thing. Everywhere they brought DBT but with so many conditions because of which number of beneficiaries got reduced. Obviously there is a major chunk who did not get benefit of these schemes.
 
 
So even after the announcement of schemes, nobody is satisfied. At this juncture the graph of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is on rise. Will it be the same by the time State would go to election? Our survey tells we did not get less votes nor Congress in Lok Sabha elections though we faced defeat. Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi did give us shock in some constituencies which is a worry factor. Some votes definitely moved in the kitty of BJP. If we talk about the graph of support of people to BJP, it was more during the time when Central Government removed Article 370. But in last week there is a fall. Euphoria never persists for longer time has not persisted of 370 for long time. Economic recession is going on. Labourers are unhappy, businessmen are cursing Government, no employment is being created etc, these issues will get more prominence than that of Article 370.
 
There we need to see how Government bat for itself. What about the outgoing that NCP is facing and incoming being experienced by BJP and Sena? BJP is inviting those leaders from our party who won from their respective constituencies in last elections. Instead of that BJP should have provided opportunity to youngsters from their own party who have future. BJP claims, it would win 220 to 230 seats, then why not make these youngsters a part of that victory. The ones who joined BJP are quite senior and already enjoyed 6 to 7 terms from their respective constituencies. Had BJP given a chance to new faces, the party could have created new leadership in those constituencies defeating old leaders. What they are doing can be termed as ‘Old wine new bottle’. It will not benefit State. Will NCP accommodate them if they come back in case they feel they are ill-treated in other parties? The deserters will have no future in the Bharatiya Janata Party or Shiv Sena as they would be pushed to the tailend of the queue being the late-comers in the party.
 
They are people with broken spines. They will have to digest humiliation without any chance of getting anywhere close to seats of power. In what way NCP sees to this transition? My observation is youngsters are becoming more popular. We are building our party with young faces. There is a general atmospher where Sharad Pawar is getting tremendous sympathy from all quarters. Pawar is known for his action. Immediately after the Lok Sabha election results, he started convening meeting and chalk out strategy for next course of action. There is not a single constituency where we got the alternative for our party, though we don’t talk much about it. Our candidates are there. I don’t claim that everybody would win but our candidates would pull the votes of those who left and will contest from BJP or Sena. It is being thought that NCP likely to get 125 seats after the final talk between it and Congress. Whether NCP has those many capable candidates?
 
Atmosphere is fluid, transitaion is there so can’t tell exact number at this juncture. Once we declare candidates then I can be able to provide exact picture. But we will have good position. Why no alliance could work out with Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi? I have no idea what went wrong as Congress was in touch with Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi. The decision on it was taken solely by Congress. Q: Why NCP is continuously batting for MNS? Raj Thackeray during Lok Sabha election campaign made a scathing attack on Government. His speeches were electrifying and Marathi man of state felt as if he was getting energetic. Whatever we were talking he was also taking same line but he was more loud. Our only view is to bring all those forces together who are opposing BJP-Sena. Frankly speaking he never approached us with a request to be a part of ally. Yesterday Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar met. What could have been they discussed?
 
 
Can you brief? It was a first meeting of Pawar after Gandhi became President of her Party. It was a courtesy meet. Of course, both must have discussed other things too, but he did not disclose the details. I may meet him in next 2-3 days as per his call. It is said you emerged on political sky on your own and proved your mettle despite having father’s legacy. It was not ‘Sonrise’. How will you describe your career? We did not talk on politics till father was alive. In our home too he never had any discussion on politics. But after his death, his supporters brought me in politics. My take on politics is, it is a number game. If you want to move forward you must have large number of people with you. I never sought votes on sympathy wave, but his towering image did help me.
 
I always asked votes on the basis of my work. I realised long back if I work, I would get votes. Now I have developed a special bonding with my constituency. Have you ever thought of becoming Chief Minister of Maharashtra? Of course. Every politician has an ambition of becoming Chief Minister so I too have. But here number plays an important role. But today is the situation different. Lets see what has destiny in its mind.