With polls nearing, politicians busy giving freebies to voters in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Want Sugar at lower rates or free petrol or want to go a pilgrimage, then Maharashtra or more specifically Mumbai is the place to be, with elections round the corner. Politicians from all parties are giving freebies to the voters. On Monday NCP Minister and MLA Sachin Ahir, distributed sugar priced at Rs 25 a kilo, Rs 10 less than the market rates to people in his constituency.

Ahir announced the move in huge hoardings in his constituency as part of the Dahi Handi festival. In Worli again a MNS functionary Shrikant Dhere gave away free petrol to bikers again to celebrate the Dahi Handi festival. The two offers were available for just one day. MNS MLA Ram Kadam from Ghatkopar has been taking old people from his constituency to pilgrimages in Varanasi for free.

The freebies are being doled out now during festivals to beat the code of conduct that would soon be in place in Maharashtra as the Election Commission would soon announce the dates for the assembly polls. These festivals therefore come in handy to beat the code of conduct.

Dhere when contacted admitted that he has been giving free petrol to those in his ward in Worli. “ This is for all those people participating in Dahi Handi and those who go to watch, we are giving this as a free service. All that the people should bring is his licence and his RC book and we giveRs 1 litre petrol free for two wheelers. It's only for those who are living in my ward.” said Dhere.

When asked whether he was doing it with the assemby polls in mind, Dhere said, “ I have been doing this for the last nine years, this has nothing to do with the elections.” A local resident from Worli admitted that Dhere has been doing it for the last nine years but added that the MNS functionary used to hold it in October.