Free travel, ritual kits, cash prizes: How parties are trying to attract voters this Ganeshutsav

In preparation for the upcoming elections, political leaders and parties in Maharashtra are gearing up to pamper citizens during the festive season. As per a TOI report, they are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to woo potential voters with a range of goodies, including free travel to their hometowns, ritual kits, and cash prizes for household Ganpati decorations.

The Shiv Sena, under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has taken a proactive step by hiring approximately 1,500 buses from various parts of Mumbai, Thane, and the suburbs. These buses will transport local residents to their native lands in Konkan and Western Maharashtra. Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske stated, "We have already initiated the registration process and anticipate ferrying over 60,000 people one way before Tuesday. The Konkani and Marathi communities have consistently supported the Sena, and this is a small gesture of our appreciation, a tradition we have upheld year after year."

Other political parties are also joining the festive fervor. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have organized bus services to Konkan from old Thane and Kalwa, respectively, in anticipation of the season's rush. NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad has taken the initiative to write to the Railways, requesting the operation of trains throughout the night during the Ganeshotsav. He emphasized, "Families often travel within the city late at night to visit relatives and seek Lord Ganesha's blessings. However, the limited train services post-midnight inconvenience them. I have urged the Railways to consider running trains 24x7, especially those connecting distant suburbs during this festive period."


The festive season has also prompted the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik to announce cash prizes for both public and domestic Ganpati decorations. The NCP has established cash rewards for public Ganpati mandals with exceptional decorations and those contributing to social causes, with prizes going up to Rs 51,000. On the other hand, Sarnaik has pledged prizes collectively worth Rs 9 lakh, primarily intended for household Ganpati decorations.

Political analysts observe that such festive occasions provide a perfect platform for politicians and political parties to reinforce their presence and strengthen their support base among the public. As election season approaches, these gestures of goodwill and festive cheer are likely to leave a lasting impression on the voters.