MUMBAI :
MAHARASHTRADeputyChief
Minister Devendra Fadnavis
onThursdaypooh-poohedthe
Congress’ plan to come out
with a ‘guarantee card’ ahead
oftheStateAssemblyelections,
and said the ploy failed in
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
Leader of Opposition in the
LokSabhaRahulGandhiwould
be releasing a ‘guarantee card’
containing theparty’s election
promises,StateCongressleaders have said. “Rahul Gandhi’s
guarantee card did not help
Congress retain power in
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh,”
Fadnavis told reporters here.
“He shouldalsoexplainwhy
theguaranteecard is notbeing
implementedinTelanganaand
Himachal Pradesh, as promised. It will fail here too,” the
BJP leader added.
OntherulingBJP-ShivSenaNCP`Mahayuti’alliance’sstrategyfordealingwithrebelswho
havefilednominationsagainst
official candidates, Fadnavis
saidalliance leaders including
NCP chief Ajit Pawar had a
meeting at CM Shinde’s residence on the issue.
“We have
resolvedallthe issues, andyou
will see many rebels withdrawing their nominations by
November 4,” the BJP leader
said,adding thattheywillhold
discussionswiththerebelsand
deal with their grievances.
November 4 is the last date of
withdrawalwhiletheelections
will be held on November 20.
“Nominations submittedby
the‘Mahayuti’candidateshave
cleared the scrutiny phase.We
willstartourcampaignwithfull
vigour from November 5,”
Fadnavissaid.Askedaboutcity
BJP leader and former MP
Gopal Shetty who is contesting as an independent from
Borivali Assembly constituency,FadnavissaidShettyisaloyalandhonestpartyworkerwho
is “assertive” at times.
“We are trying to persuade
him (to withdraw),” he added.
AstowhetherhewouldbewillingtoinductcontroversialNCP
leaderNawabMalikinthenext
Government if the Mahayuti
retainedpower, Fadnavis said,
“Our party is not even going to
campaign for Malik, so there
isnoquestionofinductinghimasaminister.Ourpartyisgoingto campaign for the Shiv Senacandidate who is contestingagainst Malik.”