Now, farmer leader joins Sena-BJP

Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana chief Raju Shetty on Friday pledged support to the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance to work against the Congress and NCP in the zilla parishad polls across Maharashtra.

Shetty, an MP from Hathkanangale constituency in Kolhapur, said: “My organisation has decided to teach Congress and NCP a lesson. They have become arrogant usurped with absolute power. They have been ignoring farmers’ issues and take the people for granted.”

The sanghatana wields clout among the farmers in parts of western Maharashtra. The Sena and BJP state leaders have meticulously worked to get Shetty on their side knowing his politics is  anti-Congress and NCP.

“Shetty has pledged support to the Sena and BJP alliance which is welcome. In terms of seat sharing, the alliance will accommodate him in areas where his organisation is powerful,” said senior BJP leader Madhav Bhandari. 

Last November, Shetty had staged a demonstration in Baramati, NCP president Sharad Pawar’s home turf.

Shetty mobilised farmers’ support to wage an agitation against the Democratic Front government to demand higher price for sugarcane, which was later accepted by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Shetty said: “The efforts of the government to tackle the farmer crisis in cotton and sugarcane sectors is an eye wash. The packages promised by the government never reach the needy farmers. We will expose the intent of the government, which works to help the rich and ignore the poor farmers.”