Revenue minister Narayan Rane has said the Congress-NCP-RPI alliance will romp home with around 155 seats and be in a position to form the government on its own in the October 13 elections. The senior Congress leader was on a daylong campaign tour of Vidarbha.
"Our campaign is at its peak and all over the state the political situation looks very much in our favour. There are clear indications that the Democratic Front would retain power in the state," said Rane after a whistle-stop campaign tour during which he addressed election meetings at Amravati, Chandur Railway, Wardha and also in the city for his party candidates on Thursday.
"The opposition has run out of steam. The Sena-BJP has no issues to campaign on. The saffron alliance may not win more than 80 seats," said Rane. According to him, price rise was not a major issue as the people who elected the Congress-led government at the Centre were confident that prime minister Manmohan Singh was capable of keeping his promise of reining in prices of essential commodities soon.
"The Congress-led governments in the state as well as the Centre have done a lot for farmers through a massive loan waiver scheme, special measures for welfare of handloom sector and taken rapid strides for development of the state," said Rane.
Justifying the government's decision to spend Rs 300 crore to erect a mammoth statue of Shivaji in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai, Rane said Shivaji was the pride of Maharashtra and the statute would be a major tourist attraction.