- Shiv Sena turns “secular” in coalition with NCP, Cong
- Promises galore in its CMP
Mumbai: Hours ahead of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s oath-taking as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, the political combine called the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Sena, NCP and the Congress, unveiled its Common Minimum Programme (CMP), envisaging their future course of action, including “upholding the secular values enshrined in the Constitution.”
Unveiling the CMP, signed by Thackeray and two other leaders, Sena leader Eknath Shinde said that the three-party alliance’s focus will be on “Country First” and it would work for the welfare of Maharashtra at all levels.
“On the contentious issues of national importance as well as of state importance, especially those having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus,” the CMP’s Preamble said.
There will be two Coordination Committees for “coordination within the State Cabinet”, and for “coordination among the alliance partners.”
The coalition government promised to increase the carpet area of tenements provided free of cost to eligible slum-dwellers from 300 square feet to 500 sq ft across Maharashtra
Among the promises the CMP made were immediate relief to the farmers suffering due to “premature” rains and floods, immediate loan waiver for them, revision in crop insurance scheme to ensure immediate compensation to the farmers who have lost their crops, appropriate measures to ensure remunerative prices for farm produce, steps for sustainable water supply to drought-affected areas, starting the process to fill up vacancies in government, fellowships for educated unemployed youth and law to ensure 80% reservation in jobs for local/domicile youth.
According the highest priority for women’s safety, the CMP promised free education to girls from economically-weaker sections (EWS), and hostels for working women in cities.
Also, it promised that children of farmers and EWS would get educational loans at zero per cent interest rate, affordable health facilities by opening One-Rupee Clinics, health insurance cover to all citizens,
