Finally, the Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana on Tuesday announced its decision to part ways with the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, blaming it for its apathy towards farmers. Shetti announced its decision after his party’s executive met in Kolhapur. The Free Press Journal on March 17 wrote that Shetti has been unhappy over the MVA government’s functioning and he was furious over his party’s lone legislator from the Vidarbha region shifting loyalties to the Nationalist Congress Party. Shetti has ruled out any tie-up with the BJP which he had quit before the 2019 Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
With Shetti’s announcement, the Shiv Sena-led MVA government has lost its key ally from the sugarcane rich Kolhapur district with its presence in western and southern Maharashtra. Shetti, who is a former MP from the Hatkanangale seat, was also displeased over the failure to nominate him in the state legislative council from the NCP quota.
Shetti told the Free Press Journal, ‘‘SSS is strongly opposed to the land acquisition Act passed by the MVA government which is anti-farmer; it is also against its decision that sugar factories will pay the fair and remunerative price (FRP) to sugarcane growers in two instalments.’’ He added that as per the state land acquisition Act, the farmers will only get 30% compensation.
