Mumbai: Launching the ‘Shiv Sampark Abhiyan’ from Aurangabad, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday announced a campaign called ‘ mee karjamukt honar (I will be debt-free)’ for farmers across Maharashtra.
Mr. Thackeray’s visit to inspect the party’s organisational condition in the Marathwada region of the State has raised eyebrows in political circles, as it is seen as Sena’s preparations for mid-term Assembly polls.
“We demand a farm loan waiver for farmers of Maharashtra. We have always said this, and continue on our position. We are launching our campaign to make farmers debt-free. The concept and execution will be disclosed in a party meeting in Mumbai within a few days,” said Mr Thackeray.
When asked whether his visit and the organisational reshuffle were signs of possible mid-term polls in Maharashtra, Mr. Thackeray said he always prefer to keep his “army of Shiv Sainiks” ready. “Organisation building is a continuous exercise,” he said. During his visit, Mr. Thackeray held meetings with leaders from Marathwada, a region where the party is dominant. The Sena chief reportedly sought names of new faces from the region who are leading from the front, giving rise to the speculations.
Commenting on the ongoing Tur procurement crisis in the State, Mr. Thackeray asked the government to change the rules, if necessary, to ensure all Tur is purchased. “The CM had said that the last grain of Tur would be purchased. It is now time to live up to that promise,” he said.
