Maharashtrians want change but are confused who to vote for

The election atmosphere in Maharashtra is charged but the sentiment is negative.

The State goes to Assembly polls on October 15 but no single party or a coalition has a decisive swing factor in its favour.

The ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition, which has been in power for the last 15 years, is facing a daily barrage of questions over the issue of corruption. The government of Manmohan Singh was stuck in 2G and Coal scam, while in the same manner, the Prithviraj Chavan government in the State finds itself in a morass of corruption cases, including Aadarsh Housing and Irrigation scam.

On the other hand, opposition parties led by Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena have not managed to give a tough opposition to the ruling coalition.

Due to their internal squabbles and the absence of a charismatic face similar to Modi, these parties have not been able to cash in on the negative image of the State Government.

Political analyst Nagesh Kesari said that after 15 years of Congress-NCP rule, people want a change but they are confused as to, which party they should vote.

The ruling Congress-NCP will not ‘throw in their towel’ so easily, but it is likely that there would be lot of rebellion and party members will change sides, which could help them gain power, he said.

Kesari said that parties such as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackeray and Aam Admi Party (AAP) of Arvind Kejriwal have become ‘nonentities’ in Assembly elections, “Firebrand activist Medha Patkar fought on AAP ticket in Parliamentary elections but she was knocked out of the race by the voters. In order to survive in a democracy people’s votes are paramount,” he pointed out.

Voters as well as party workers in Maharashtra don’t have a clear picture over seat sharing arrangement.

The elections are 33 days away but neither BJP-Shiv Sena alliance nor Congress-NCP has announced any seat sharing numbers.

Author and political commentator, Nilu Damle says that as on today none of the parties have any imaginative ideas, which will capture people’s attention.

In the Lok Sabha election Modi was the alternative but today in Maharashtra there is no such leader.

The present crop of top leaders in BJP such as Devendra Fadnavis, Vinod Tawde or Pankaja Munde cannot offer any credible leadership to people, he added.

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