Congress ensures better implementation and welfare in Maharashtra: Chidambaram

Mumbai, Oct 7 (ANI): Calling for greater interconnectivity between the State Governments and the Centre, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said the benefits of such interaction could be seen in Maharashtra, and he had no doubt about a Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (Congress-NCP) alliance assuming charge for a second consecutive term in office after assembly election on October 13.

Appealing to the people of Maharashtra to vote for the incumbent Congress-NCP Alliance, Chidambaram claimed that the new government would provide a safer and more secure state.

"Congress rule in the state can ensure unity of people and better implementation of development and welfare for people. "Because of the high growth of Maharashtra that India achieved a growth rate of nine per cent and promised all help to the state to maintain its high growth path," he told a press conference here this afternoon.

"In the last five years of Congress-NCP government, both at the center and in Maharashtra, no one can doubt that Maharashtra and India has gained tremendously. I compliment Maharashtra for contributing to India's growth. Maharashtra has also benefited from India's growth," Chidambaram said.

Citing specific statistics to support his contention that Centre-State inter connectivity was for the good of the State in particular and the nation overall, the Minister said Maharashtra became a revenue surplus state in 2007.

He further stated that annual plane outlays jumped from Rs 11000 crore in 2005-2006 to Rs 14850 crore in 2006-2007 to Rs 20,000 crores in 2007-2008 and Rs 25000 crores in 2008-2009.

Out of this Rs 25000 crores, the central assistance was to the time of only Rs 6557 crores, which in itself was a reflection of the monumental achievements of the state.

"I want Maharashtra to stay connected with the rest of India. A Government should be in place that is in sync with the center. There are states like West Bengal and Orissa which are not in sync with the center. They have suffered," said Chidambara.

He also slammed the Maharashtra Nav Nirman (MNS) for its anti-migrant politics, saying the outsider campaign will be rejected by the people.

Earlier, addressing a rally in Pune, Chidambaram: "The country is better prepared for fighting terrorism than ever before because of modernisation of the police force, which now has better training and modern equipment.

"We will be stronger if people are united. The Congress represents every community and religion and hence it should be voted back to power in the state," he added.

The Congress and the NCP, which make the Democratic Front, have been ruling the state for the past 10 years. While they had last week arrived at an understanding to continue their alliance, the formal announcement came late.

The Congress- NCP will contest 174 and 114 seats respectively in the October 13 assembly polls.

In the 2004 assembly polls, the Congress contested 157 of the 288 seats and the NCP fought for 127 seats, leaving the rest to allies. The Congress won 69 seats while the NCP got 71.

In the April-May Lok Sabha elections, the Congress contested 25 of the 48 seats in the state and won 17, while the NCP won only eight of the 21 seats it contested. (ANI)