Sharad Pawar Slams Modi Government, Appeals to Vote Against BJP

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar criticized the Narendra Modi-led central government for being insensitive towards farmers and the common man during election rallies at Chopda and Bhusaval in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra on Friday. Pawar appealed to the people to vote against the BJP government in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Why this matters: The outcome of the Lok Sabha elections will have a significant impact on the country's economic and social policies, affecting the lives of millions of Indians. The criticism of the Modi government's handling of essential commodity prices and its response to farmers' concerns could influence voter decisions and shape the country's future leadership.

Pawar accused Prime Minister Modi of not fulfilling his 2014 promise to bring down the prices of essential commodities within seven days. "It was promised that the prices of gas cylinders would be reduced by 50 pc from Rs 400. Today, however, the price is Rs 1,160. There has been only a rise, a continuous rise in prices,"Pawar said.

The NCP chief appealed to the people to support the party's candidate Shriram Patil in Raver constituency. "I appeal you to support our candidate Shriram Patil, who is willing and ready to strive for the common man," Pawar stated. Patil, a 53-year-old industrialist and social worker, joined the NCP on April 9 after previously being with the BJP.

In an exclusive interview with Frontline, Pawar attacked PM Modi's campaign and claimed that many small parties would join the INDIA bloc after June 4. He slammed Modi for twisting the contents of the Congress manifesto. Pawar expressed confidence in his party's performance, stating that the BJP's tally would go down drastically from what it is today.

Pawar, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Baramati against his nephew Ajit Pawar, also predicted severe setbacks for the BJP in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab due to the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The NCP chief's convoy met with a minor collision on the Bhusawal-Yawal road in Yawal tehsil, Jalgaon on Friday, but there were no injuries reported.

Sharad Pawar'sralliesin Jalgaon district focused on criticizing the Modi government's handling of essential commodity prices and appealing to the people to support the NCP-SP candidate Shriram Patil in the upcoming election. The NCP chief's scathing attack on PM Modi and his confidence in the party's prospects underscore the intensifying political battle as the Lok Sabha elections enter a crucial phase.

Key Takeaways

• NCP chief Sharad Pawar criticizes Modi government for being insensitive towards farmers and common man.
• Pawar accuses Modi of not fulfilling 2014 promise to reduce essential commodity prices.
• Pawar appeals to people to vote against BJP government in ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
• NCP chief predicts severe setbacks for BJP in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab due to Kejriwal's arrest.
• Pawar expresses confidence in NCP's performance, predicting BJP's tally to go down drastically.