The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has taken the lead in the Lok Sabha polls campaigning in western Maharashtra. The party has announced candidates for the Baramati, Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha seats. NCP city unit president Chetan Tupe speaks to Siddharth Gadkari on the poll preparedness of NCP.
- What preparations is the NCP making for the elections in Pune district and the city?
In Pune district, there are four Lok Sabha seats, in which, the party has got three seats - Baramati, Maval and Shirur - in the seat-sharing. The Khadakwasla and Hadapsar Assembly constituencies within the Pune Municipal Corporation’s limits come under the Shirur and Baramati Lok Sabha Constituencies, respectively. The Baramati and Shirur candidates have been named by our party. We have already started the election campaign. For the Pune Lok Sabha seat, the Congress has not announced the name of its candidate. However, we have completed the groundwork in the city. Recently, our senior leader Ajit Pawar conducted meetings and instructed all to work together.
- Are there any differences among Congress and NCP workers in the district and the city?
I don’t think so. There are no opinion clashes between the Congress and the NCP. We are working together. In the Hadapsar area, Congress leader Balasaheb Shivarkar and Congress city unit president Ramesh Bagwe were present during the NCP candidate’s campaign. We have distributed pamphlets of the candidates in the Shirur and Baramati constituencies. We are a step ahead in the election campaign in the district. The Congress leaders are also taking part in the campaign.
- Is social media playing a major role in the Lok Sabha polls 2019?
In 2014, social media was new and was used extensively. Therefore, every party was using social media in their election campaign. Now, people know its disadvantages and how it affects voters. Social media campaigns caused communal riots in some areas. So, the NCP has decided to use social media positively and to not criticise candidates from other parties. We have given strict instructions to party workers on how to use social media for the election campaign. We are using social media for promoting development works of the candidates and not for damaging any party leaders like Bharatiya Janata Party is doing in the country.
- What is your party’s view on BJP’s candidate Girish Bapat for the Pune Lok Sabha polls?
Bapat is the district guardian minister. We have lots of material to use against him. Bapat has been responsible for the city’s water crisis, inflating the cost of the 24x7 water supply project tender etc. The BJP has not given any explanation to citizens on these issues. Now, Bapat has to answer such questions. In fact, we are at an advantage after Bapat’s candidature is declared. He was involved in the tur dal scam, corruption in the food supply and the water issue. Bapat is the State Cabinet Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection.
