Ahead of BMC Polls, Prithviraj Chavan Criticises Congress for Losing Touch with Common People

Pune:
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday made candid remarks on the functioning of the Congress party, admitting that it has failed to effectively raise issues concerning the common man. His comments come at a crucial time, ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Pune, Chavan said that Congress-led initiatives such as the ‘Samvidhan Yatra’ and ‘Tiranga Yatra’ did not succeed in attracting the general public. “Participation in these programmes was largely limited to party workers. We could not connect with ordinary citizens, especially the youth,” he admitted.

The former Chief Minister stressed that the party has lagged behind in highlighting pressing issues such as unemployment, farmers’ distress and rising inflation, which directly impact young people and rural communities. “Personally, I feel we have failed to adequately raise concerns related to joblessness, agrarian crisis and price rise. These are issues that resonate most with youth and farmers,” Chavan said.

Chavan also took a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that development under the current government has been one-sided. He claimed the government is focused primarily on large infrastructure projects such as highways, while ignoring day-to-day problems faced by common citizens.

Emphasising the need for course correction, Chavan urged Congress to reconnect with youth, farmers and other marginalised sections of society by taking up issues that directly affect their lives. “Unless we address the concerns the government is overlooking, it will be difficult to regain public trust,” he said.

His remarks are being seen as a rare instance of internal introspection within the party at a time when political stakes are high in Maharashtra’s civic elections.