The pressures within political parties ahead of the state assembly poll on October 13, the Congress-NCP seat-sharing issue, the discord within the Third Front.
The pressures within political parties ahead of the state assembly poll on October 13, the Congress-NCP seat-sharing issue, the discord within the Third Front, Shiv Sena’s debate over seat distribution and Sonia Gandhi’s “austerity drive” are the issues that dominated the front pages of all Marathi dailies in the past fortnight.
Commenting on the much talked about Congress-NCP alliance, Marathi newspaper, Sakal in its headline said, “Donhi Congresschi Aaghadi Babat Salami” (Congress-NCP agree for an alliance). Lokmat, on the other hand, summed up the alliance in a headline which read, “Aaghadichi supari phutli” (Congress-NCP deadlock over).
While a headline in Loksatta read, “Aaghadi zhali ki ho” (Alliance finalised), the Maharashtra Times said, “Aaghadichi galbat kinaryawar” (Confusion over alliance ends) and Saamna said, “Aaghadi cha sutla, watpacha adakla” (Poll pact is through, dispute over seats continue).
The discord within the Third Front also received prominence in all the Marathi dailies. Lokmat was the first to break the news. “Athavalecha vagne sahan karnar nahin” (Athavale’s highhandedness won’t be tolerated),” it said.
Opinions over the discord were also reflected in a column titled: “Awale ani bhopale: Nandu anande sagle” in the Maharashtra Times. The column reflected the Third Front’s short-sighted politics and also raised questions about its stability.
Dailies also debated about the issue where Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray warned party leaders against dissidence over ticket distribution. He also directed the sainiks to give a befitting reply to those who took bribe to divide the Sena. “Supari gheyun Marathi mansaat phut padnyarana uttar dya,” Loksatta quoted him as saying.
BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde also set the corridors of power abuzz when, in an interview to Loksatta, he said, ‘Balasaheb Raj-Uddhav la ekatra anu shaktat’ (Only Bal Thackeray can bring Raj and Uddhav together.)
Congress president Sonia Gandhi blew the bugle sounding the commencement of the election campaign during her short visit to Mumbai. She urged party workers to strengthen the organisation in the state assembly elections. Her decision to travel in economy class also triggered a debate across newspapers with some dismissing it as a farce.
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