Pune: Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde Advise Mahayuti Officials to Steer Clear of Controversy; Fadnavis Skips Meeting
Pune, 12th April 2024: An ill-chosen word during an election can impact the results significantly. The vote margin for Mahayuti candidates should be increased, not diminished. Therefore, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar advised Mahayuti officials on Thursday (11th April) to avoid making controversial statements or engaging in offensive actions.
The rally was held in support of Mahayuti’s Pune Lok Sabha constituency candidate, Muralidhar Mohol. During the event, Chief Minister Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar guided the attendees. The event was attended by various key figures, including Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Dr Neelam Gorhe, Minister of Higher and Technical Education of Maharashtra Chandrakant Patil, MP Medha Kulkarni, Pune candidate Muralidhar Mohol, and Shirur candidate Shivajirao Adhalarao Patil, along with other office bearers and local leaders.
Chief Minister Shinde emphasized that when workers are actively involved in an election, the candidate’s success is assured. Given the summer season, booth workers should focus on encouraging people to come out and vote. Mahayuti aims to elect over 45 MPs from the state. Shinde advised workers to remain calm and composed while speaking and to engage respectfully with voters by listening carefully to their concerns. He urged the importance of conveying the achievements of both the central and state governments to every constituent.
Shinde expressed the shared goal of electing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third term. He noted that voters are enthusiastic about supporting Modi. He highlighted that Mahayuti consists of multiple parties, including the BJP with its lotus symbol, the NCP with its clock symbol, and the Shiv Sena with its bow and arrow symbol. Therefore, he advised that voters should understand that voting for the clock or bow and arrow symbols also supports Modi. Campaigners should promote this alignment effectively.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar emphasized that the Lok Sabha election serves as an important prelude to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election. He stressed the importance of the election from a political standpoint and cautioned against assuming the election would be easy. Pawar urged Mahayuti members to resolve internal differences and present a united front while avoiding controversial statements and offensive behaviour during the campaign. He warned against the spread of misinformation and rumours by opponents and advised vigilance in handling these challenges. Campaign efforts should focus on development issues, and candidates should respond thoughtfully to opponents, especially on social media.
Why Was Fadnavis Absent?
Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis did not attend the gathering. Pawar clarified that there was no discord within Mahayuti and explained that Fadnavis was expected to attend but was with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Vidarbha. This commitment prevented him from being present at the meeting.
