Maharashtra Elections 2024 Highlights: ‘MVA has started licking soles of Muslim Ulemas’, says Devendra Fadnavis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Modern infrastructure is being built in Maharashtra… In this entire region, the railway is being modernised. Maharashtra has attracted the maximum FDI after the formation of the Mahayuti govt. The people have benefited due to the investment. In this region alone, contracts of more than Rs 70,000 crore have been finalised.”

“Maharashtra must lead the vision of a developed India. The BJP and Mahayuti are working with this resolve. That’s why today, modern infrastructure is being built across Maharashtra. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, for instance, now passes through Sambhaji Nagar. This road directly connects Marathwada, Vidarbha, and Mumbai, bringing greater development and connectivity to the region,” says PM Modi in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, poll rally.

PM Modi says, “The entire state of Maharashtra knows that the demand to rename this city to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar was first raised by Balasaheb Thackeray. The Aghadi government was in power for 2.5 years, yet they lacked the courage to fulfill this demand, bowing to pressure from the Congress. But as soon as the Mahayuti government came to power, we renamed this city Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. We have fulfilled your wish, and we have fulfilled Balasaheb Thackeray’s wish.”

At an election rally in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Those who have problem with Shambhaji Maharaj’s name, those who see Messiah in the name of those who killed him, aren’t they standing against the Maharashtra and Maratha pride? Aren’t these people against our identity? Will Maharashtra ever accept such people?”

Jairam Ramesh’s remarks come a couple of days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed Maharashtra’s soyabean and cotton farmers are frustrated due to the BJP government’s “anti-farmer” policies, and assured them the INDIA bloc will resolve their issues once its forms government in the state.

Gandhi had said soyabean prices were up to Rs 10,000 in 2021 but now farmers are forced to sell it at lower than the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The MSP of soyabean is Rs 4,892 but farmers have to sell it at around Rs 4,200 or even less, he had said.

Rahul Gandhi had interacted with soyabean and cotton farmers of Maharashtra through video conference and heard their problems.

Gandhi was to visit Chikhli in Buldhana district to address a rally of soyabean and cotton farmers. His rally was cancelled on Tuesday after his flight from Delhi faced a technical glitch.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said Maharashtra’s procurement period for soyabean – the shortest of all states – will end in 15 days.

“Even as this period is set to end, the state has only purchased about 3,888 metric tons of soyabean, as opposed to a sanctioned quantity of 13,08,238 metric tons. The state has met a whopping 0.3% of its own target,” he pointed out.

“Neighbouring Telangana, governed by Congress, has in the meantime procured nearly 25,000 metric tons of soyabean, approaching 50% of its target,” Ramesh said in his post on X.

This is the difference between those who are committed to farmer welfare, and those who are committed to their own purse and power, the Congress leader said attacking the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.

The farmers of Maharashtra will vote for the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi to secure legal status for MSP – at a price determined by the Swaminathan Commission Formula, he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday in his election speech in Nandurbar, Maharashtra, says, “Those who say I show “red book with blank pages in it” have never read the Constitution. Our Constitution contains the soul of India and principles envisaged by national icons.”

A day earlier, targeting Gandhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress party of making false promises and misleading people.

“Recently, Rahul Gandhi was seen waving a copy of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, which he also used while taking the oath in Parliament. However, when journalists got hold of that very same copy, they discovered it had blank pages. By displaying a fake Constitution, Rahul has betrayed the trust of the people and insulted Babasaheb. It seems you have never actually read the Constitution, Rahul baba,” Amit Shah told the crowd in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, on Wednesday.

Maharashtra police detained a 42-year-old man after seizing Rs 1.5 crore in cash from his possession in Nagpur Maharashtra. The man, a resident of Yashodhara Nagar, was stopped during a routine check on Wednesday night in the Central Avenue area. The Election Commission has been notified about it due to concerns that the money could be linked to electoral malpractices, ahead of the state polls.

Officials found Rs 1.35 crore hidden in the bike and Rs 15 lakh in a bag he was carrying.

Maharashtra is gearing up to hold the Assembly elections on November 20. The polls will be held in a single phase. The counting of votes will be on November 23.