Uttam campaigns with CM Siddarmaiah in Maha elections, predicts huge win for MVA

Nanded, November 15: Telangana’s Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy assured that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will implement all its guarantees and promises if it comes to power in Maharashtra. 

Speaking at an election campaign meeting in Mukhed Assembly constituency on Friday, Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is also the AICC Senior Observer for Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, highlighted the Congress’s welfare model and its success in other states as a roadmap for Maharashtra’s future. The meeting was also addressed by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil. 

Uttam Kumar Reddy predicted a sweeping victory for the MVA alliance, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT faction), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), in the ongoing Assembly elections, expecting the alliance to secure over 200 seats. He noted the coalition’s success in the Lok Sabha elections, where it won 31 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats, as a testament to its popularity and public trust. 

He pointed to the Congress-led governments in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh as examples of administrations that delivered on their promises. “The Congress implemented all guarantees in Telangana, including free bus travel for 1.05 crore women, subsidised LPG cylinders at Rs 500, and free electricity for up to 50 lakh families. These initiatives are a blueprint for the MVA’s governance model in Maharashtra,” Uttam Kumar Reddy stated. 

Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the Lendi inter-state irrigation project between Maharashtra and Telangana would be taken up after the Assembly elections. “We will resolve all pending issues with Maharashtra and take up this crucial project to benefit farmers in both states,” he assured. 

He also criticised the BJP's divisive politics and alleged mismanagement in Maharashtra. He accused the BJP-led state government of betraying public trust by shifting major industrial projects to Gujarat, calling it a move that harmed Maharashtra’s economic interests. “The people of Maharashtra will reject the BJP’s divisive and anti-people policies. This election is not just about the state; it’s about the future of democracy and inclusivity in our country,” he remarked. 

Highlighting Congress’s vision for Maharashtra, Uttam Kumar Reddy outlined the party’s five guarantees, which included Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance and free bus travel for women under the Mahalakshmi Yojana, a Rs 3 lakh farm loan waiver with a Rs 50,000 bonus for timely repayment, a caste census with efforts to lift the 50% reservation cap, Rs 25 lakh health insurance per family with accessible medicines, and Rs 4,000 monthly unemployment support for youth. 

Uttam Kumar Reddy invoked Maharashtra’s legacy of social reformers like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, and Dr B.R. Ambedkar, asserting that the MVA would uphold these values of unity, justice, and equality. “The Congress’s approach aligns with Maharashtra’s rich history of reform and progress, standing in stark contrast to the BJP’s politics of division,” he said. 

He described the Maharashtra elections as a turning point for the state and the country. “The entire nation is looking at Maharashtra. An MVA victory would be a win for democracy, secularism, and the values that unite our country,” Reddy emphasised. 

Appealing to voters, Uttam Kumar Reddy urged them to choose the MVA to ensure Maharashtra’s progress, dignity, and inclusive development. “The Congress and its allies are committed to creating a Maharashtra that reflects its glorious legacy of reform and stands as a model for the entire country,” he said.