As it released a “Gaddarancha Panchanama” (a document listing the black deeds of betrayers) against MahaYuti government in Maharashtra, the Opposition MahaVikas Aghadi (MVA) – comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) – on Sunday gave a clarion call to the people of  the state for the ouster of the BJP-led grand ruling alliance.

Addressing a joint news conference here ahead of the declaration of the schedule for the Assembly polls, NCP (UBT) chief Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray went to town with a panchanama of   “black deeds” allegedly committed by the  BJP-led MahaYuti government during its 27 months’ rule in the state.

The four-page “Gaddarancha Panchanama” document released by the MVA on the occasion highlighted the corruption allegedly indulged by the ruling alliance and listed its  failures on various fronts during its rule.  “The MahaYuti’s biggest sin is it betrayed the Maharashtra dharma and placed it the feet of Gujarat”.

Among the charges that the MVA made against the ruling MahaYuti – comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) were: alleged corruption in the installation of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji which collapsed recently in Sindhudurg district, atrocities against women and lack of safety “for our daughters), denial of guaranteed prices and crop insurance to farmers, driving away industries from Maharashtra to Gujarat and taking of “30 per cent cut” on every project and destabilising the state by promoting hatred and stirring conflicts between castes and religions.

Speaking on the occasion, Nana Patole said:  “Maharashtra has been shaken up by the murder of former minister and MLA Baba Siddique. Schoolgirls are not safe, women are not safe, and the public in the state is also not safe anymore. Law and order have deteriorated, and soon. Every day, seven farmers are committing suicide in Maharashtra. Young people are getting educated and waiting for jobs, but this government has shifted all industries and employment opportunities to Gujarat. This government must be ousted now”.

Tearing into the BJP-led MahaYuti government, Sharad Pawar said that the Maharashtra Cabinet had gone on a decision-making spree.”How and when the decisions taken by the Shinde government will be implemented. In the past Maharashtra’s administration was highly respected in the country. But during the tenure of the Mahayuti government, this administrative system has been dismantled As a result, Maharashtra is paying a high price for it. We must save Maharashtra from the hands of those who are destroying the administrative system. We are going all out to unseat MahaYuti from power,” Pawar said.

Charging that there was a complete breakdown of law and order in the state, Uddhav Thackeray said: Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, "What were the authorities doing until the murder of Baba Siddique? During Fadnavis's government, Nana Patole's phone was being tapped, they kept a close watch on the opposition, but why not on criminals? The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are only for the opposition. If murders are happening in the capital of Maharashtra, if atrocities against women are happening, where is the la w in the state?

“When the young Abhishek Ghosalkar ( UBT Sena leader)  was murdered, Fadnavis had said, ‘Even if a dog comes under the car, the opposition will demand the Home Minister’s resignation.’ This government thinks of people as dogs. Mahayuti has turned Maharashtra into a colony of Gujarat, but the MVA will not allow Modi and Shah to take over the state of Shivaji, Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar. This government must be defeated in the upcoming assembly,” Uddhav said

Replying to a question, Sharad Pawar said: "The people of Maharashtra are eager for change in the state, as they were during the Lok Sabha polls. The MVA won 31 out of 48 seats in the Lok Sabha, and similar results will be seen in the State Aseembly polls”..

In response to a question about the MVA's Chief Ministerial candidate, MVA leaders clarified, "There is no leadership issue or conflict over the chair within the MVA; we are united. This election is between the MVA and the Mahayuti. Let’s see what happens after Mahayuti announces their Chief Ministerial candidate."

Queried as to who is the MVA’s chief ministerial candidate, Uddhav said: “Forget Maha Vikas Aghadi…who would be the Chief Minister of the Maha Yuti?…let the BJP first decide their Chief Ministerial candidate…being in government they should announce first. But the BJP’s position is so bad that they have been forced to contest under the leadership of thieves and traitors.”

On who will lead the MVA during the polls, Sharad Pawar said: “Whatever Thackeray has said about the Chief Minister is quite clear and that is it.”