In this episode of The Editorial, Mr. Sujit Nair explores whether the Adani factor could influence Maharashtra politics. He delves into the Dharavi redevelopment project, for which Adani has secured the tender, and discusses potential outcomes if the MVA comes to power, given the differing stances of its leaders on Adani. Mr. Nair also examines the possibility of a new post-poll alliance forming if the Adani factor plays a significant role.
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[00:00:00] Namaskar! Welcome to another episode of Editorial. To my mind, Adani is going to play a very vital role in the next Maharashtra government.
[00:00:20] Let's discuss why and get right into this show.
[00:00:27] Okay, now in Mumbai, Mumbai City, in fact in the heart of Mumbai City, in the heart of Mumbai City, there is a place called Dharavi.
[00:00:38] Dharavi is supposed to be one of the world's largest slum area.
[00:00:43] And situated in the heart of Mumbai City because Dharavi is quite close to the Victoria Terminus, earlier Victoria Terminus Station.
[00:00:52] Now it is called Chattrapati Shivaji Maharashtra Station. It is close to Churchgate Station, it is close to the airport, it is close to BKC Bandra Kurla Commercial Complex, it is close to Nairman Point.
[00:01:02] So, somewhere down the line, this is actually the epicentre of Mumbai. Dharavi is the epicentre of Mumbai.
[00:01:09] It covers around 2.39 square kilometres of area and a 10 kilometre radius. This is Dharavi.
[00:01:22] Now, Maharashtra government said, Baba, it is so real, right in the centre of Mumbai, it is covered by slums. No.
[00:01:33] So, they said, look, let us give this to a realtor, somebody who can develop, builder and then let's redevelop this entire place.
[00:01:42] Let's build big buildings, big housing complexes, big for rich people, let us build all that.
[00:01:49] And the slum dwellers, the slum dwellers, we will rehabilitate those slum dwellers, we will relocate those slum dwellers within 10 kilometre radius of Dharavi.
[00:02:01] So, it is not that we are going to throw them to say Nala Supara or some faraway place, we will give them place, we will give them an alternative residence.
[00:02:10] People who are legally residing there, people who have no legal status, the slum doesn't have legal status, so on and so forth, all of them, all of them, all of them will be.
[00:02:23] There are 4 lakh residents in that particular slum, 4 lakh people stay in that 2.39 square kilometre area, 4 lakh people.
[00:02:32] So, all those 4 lakh people will be given an alternative within the radius of 10 kilometres from this Dharavi.
[00:02:40] So, that was what the government decided.
[00:02:43] Okay.
[00:02:44] Now, what the government did is, it opened a tender and it called for bids.
[00:02:49] And as always, Adani bid and Adani got it.
[00:02:52] Now, Adani bid 5,069 crores and his nearest competitor DLF, bid mere 2,025 crores.
[00:03:02] Half of Adani was the nearest bid.
[00:03:05] Obviously, the project was given to Adani.
[00:03:09] Story clear so far?
[00:03:11] Okay.
[00:03:14] Now, let's look at the stance.
[00:03:19] Who gave this contract to Adani?
[00:03:21] This contract was physically inked by the Yuti government.
[00:03:26] It was inked when Mr. Shinde was the chief minister.
[00:03:30] So, somewhere down the line, if you look at the dynamics,
[00:03:35] the Mahavikazagadi, which consists of Congress, Shiva Sena and Sharad Pawar,
[00:03:43] and the Mahayuti government, which consists of Ajit Pawar, Bharatiya Janata Party and Shinde.
[00:03:53] The Bharatiya Janata Party, Shinde, Ajit Pawar are pro giving this land for development to Adani.
[00:04:01] But here, on the other hand, Shiva Sena, Uddopala Sahib Thakre and Congress Rahul Gandhi are absolutely against this particular project being given to Adani.
[00:04:15] Now, you understand the dynamics?
[00:04:17] So, two out of three members here are absolutely against for this project to be given to Adani.
[00:04:24] And three out of three members here are okay for this project to be given to Adani.
[00:04:28] So, there is a very vital factor.
[00:04:30] And that vital factor is Sharachandra Pawar.
[00:04:34] Sharachandra Pawar is very close to Adani.
[00:04:37] In fact, I am told that it is Sharachandra Pawar who actually introduced Adani to Mr. Narendra Modi long back when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat.
[00:04:52] It is Mr. Sharachandra Pawar.
[00:04:54] Sharachandra Pawar's relation with Adani is no secret.
[00:04:59] Sharachandra Pawar has fantastic relation with Adani.
[00:05:01] Abhi! The question is like this.
[00:05:04] Chalo, Mahavikazagadi comes to power.
[00:05:07] Uddho Pala Sahib Thakre has been saying that listen, I will ensure that this project is revoked.
[00:05:12] I will not give this project to Adani.
[00:05:15] Rahul Gandhi says absolutely, absolutely correct.
[00:05:19] This is our stance too.
[00:05:22] What will Sharachandra Pawar say?
[00:05:24] Sharachandra Pawar has to take a stance no?
[00:05:27] Sharachandra Pawar is Adani's best friend.
[00:05:29] What will he do?
[00:05:31] So, we will keep this aside.
[00:05:33] Now, let's come to Mahayuti.
[00:05:34] Mahayuti everything is fine.
[00:05:35] If Mahayuti comes, then they are okay.
[00:05:37] The project will go ahead as is.
[00:05:43] Now, Ajit Pawar made a statement.
[00:05:46] Ajit Pawar made a statement in News Laundry.
[00:05:52] He was giving an interview to Srinivasan Jain.
[00:05:55] And Ajit Pawar said that listen, you know, 2019 which if you remember your channel also had mentioned this to you that there was a meeting between Amish Shah and Sharach Pawar in 2019 to form an alliance.
[00:06:11] To form an alliance and whatever we understood from that from our sources at that point in time which also we had mentioned to you is that the entire relationship fell apart because Amish Shah was not willing to sacrifice Shivasana for NCP.
[00:06:32] Amish Shah said that listen, Shivasana that is UBT remind you there was one Shivasana then Uddho Balasaheb Thakre was heading it.
[00:06:40] Amish Shah said that Uddho Balasaheb Thakre, Shivasana will remain with us.
[00:06:43] You can also come and join us and we will fight Congress, we will make the government and we will form the government in Maharashtra, 2019 story.
[00:06:53] And Sharach Pawar said that why am I joining you?
[00:06:56] If Shivasana is going to be there then what is the point of me joining you?
[00:07:00] This was the reason why the relationship didn't happen.
[00:07:04] Then later on again Ajit Pawar had gone and joined and in fact formed the government with Devendra Fadnavis.
[00:07:12] That government lasted for two or three days.
[00:07:14] He had formed the government all this story we know and now Ajit Pawar says that it is Sharach Pawar who had told me to go and form the government.
[00:07:23] Ajit Pawar says you know we all met in Adani's house where Adani was there, Amisha was there, Sharach Pawar was there, I was there and we decided we will form the government.
[00:07:33] And I formed the government and then Sharach Pawar didn't come.
[00:07:37] This is what Ajit Pawar says.
[00:07:41] Well does it sound right?
[00:07:43] Yeah, yeah because something similar we heard too.
[00:07:47] We heard in 2019, 2020 something similar we had heard too.
[00:07:51] So the point is now what happens from here?
[00:07:54] Itna to hua chalo, okay?
[00:07:56] Now what happens from here?
[00:07:57] My question again back.
[00:08:00] What happens if Mahavika Zagadi forms the government?
[00:08:04] Will Mahavika Zagadi go ahead with the Dharavi project and give it to Adani?
[00:08:10] Or will Mahavika Zagadi stop that project?
[00:08:13] Now if Mahavika Zagadi goes ahead with that project then Rahul Gandhi standing in Lok Sabha talking about Adani and Adani owning the country and Adani owning Prime Minister and whatever name he gives Modani or whatever.
[00:08:29] All this will go kaput because your government has given the contract to Adani.
[00:08:35] So that can't happen.
[00:08:38] Now with all this, after all this rather, if Sharach Pawar's party which is MVA, Sharach Pawar is part of that party does not give the contract to Adani.
[00:08:51] Then what happens?
[00:08:52] Think about it.
[00:08:54] So somewhere down the line, this Adani factor may be a big question mark.
[00:09:00] This Adani factor may be a very important issue when it comes to actual government formation in Maharashtra.
[00:09:13] This Adani factor may see alliances break or rather I will rephrase myself.
[00:09:23] This Adani factor could see alliances break and new alliances being formed.
[00:09:33] Not on basis of ideology.
[00:09:36] Not on basis of ideology.
[00:09:36] It never was.
[00:09:37] Not on basis of ideology.
[00:09:39] But on basis of who will be able to help Adani more.
[00:09:46] This is a possibility.
[00:09:49] This will be very interesting to watch.
[00:09:52] And you know the interesting part?
[00:09:56] If this equation is true and this equation actually happens, then it's not about the result on 23rd.
[00:10:06] It is possibly what could happen after the result of 23rd that will make a difference to Maharashtra's future.
[00:10:18] Till I see you next time.
[00:10:20] That's tomorrow at 10.
[00:10:22] Namaskar.
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