Sambhaji Brigade set to contest elections

Pune: Blaming the state government for failing to keep its promises, inclu-ding providing reservation to the Maratha and Dhangar communities, the Sambhaji Brigade, a social organisation, is going to contest upcoming Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections.

Criticising the state government for its failure to give reservation to Marathas and Dhangars, the Sambhaji Brigade has decided to contest elections for social work and politics. The group is holding a statewide convention, Swarajya Sankalpa Melava, in Aurangabad on Dece-mber 9 to plan its course elaborately. A few Muslim and Dhangar organisations are also going to join the group on that day.

Santosh Shinde, chief of Sambhaji Brigade, Pune district, said, “The state government promised reservation to the Marathas and Dhangars in its election manifesto but didn’t implement it. False policies of the state government have led to the agrarian crisis and many farmers are committing suicide. Farmers aren’t able to get minimum support price for their produce. The government has failed to create job as it promised in its manifesto. This government is not of common people but it is of capitalists and rich people.”

He added, “Besides, the government is behind creating communal tensions across the state for its own benefit. Hence we have decided to contest upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.”

Mansur Ali Shah Tipu, a descendant of Tipu Sultan, along with thousands of his followers will join group on December 9 at Aurangabad. Many Dhangar leaders along with Hanumant Shinde, a Dhangar leader, will also join the group on the same day. Thousands of members are expected to attend the convention, Mr Shinde said, “Details of who will be the contestants will be disclosed in Aurangabad.”