It is the first big elections after the Lok Sabha polls as Maharashtra and Haryana will choose new governments. It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi against rest of the parties.
Polling in Maharashtra is being pegged as the biggest electoral battle that the state has ever seen. For the first time, former allies - the BJP and the Shiv Sena will face-off in a bid to win 288 assembly seats in the state. Remember, their 25-year-old alliance ended last month over seat sharing differences. The BJP is hoping to ride on the Modi wave to win elections in a state where it has so far relied upon the Sena's local presence. Also in the fray, old friends turned foes - the NCP and the Congress- who face a massive anti-incumbency and are pitted against one another after they ended their 15-year-old alliance.
Haryana too is voting for its 90 assembly seats with a three cornered contest between the incumbent Congress, the INLD and the BJP in the state. The BJP is hoping to enlarge its footprint in Haryana and has made a pitch for development and a corruption-free government. INLD chief and former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala has sounded a confident note saying that his party will form the next government. Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is facing two-term anti-incumbency; he appears confident on voting day saying he will become the chief minister if the congress wins.
Here’s what some of the influential voices from India Inc expect from the new state governments as they cast their vote today –
Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman & MD, HCC:
Most of the candidates in my constituency are quite unknown. Maharashtra has an extraordinary advantage over any other state in India and has potential to independently be in the top 5 largest economies of the world as Mumbai was there in the forefront even before independence. We would like a party that would bring serious development in the state, a party that should make Maharashtra more prosperous than Germany hopefully. We need ease of doing biz, and clear governance, to bring the infrastructure well into place.
Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group: We are looking for a party that can synchronise well with the Centre, that can be business friendly, a party that can pass projects quickly and ease business. If industries improve then peoples lives will improve, employment will grow and I think Maharashtra can do exceedingly well.
Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, SBI:
We want growth, we want stability, and there are so many expectations. I was in IMF meeting last week where India is concerned. The whole world seems to appear to think we are on the cusp of real good growth. I hope we can meet those expectations.
N Chandrasekaran, CEO & MD, TCS:
We have to look at education, infra. We also have to look at how we can make Mumbai the top city in the world, as Maharashtra is a large state with enormous potential for industrial development. We just need to look holistically from the point of view of people development apart from infrastructure and help overall capability, talent development. All the strings are to be looked at in every context. It is not only the people and technology but also people in all strata of the society and vocational skills; everything has to come to the fore.
Keki Mistry, Vice-Chairman & CEO, HDFC:
For me more important is the party rather than the individual. I look for someone who can bring in a clean administration, better infrastructure. If u have seen a city like Mumbai that has so many transportation problems, pollution etc., it is not great living in Bombay as it used to be 30-35 years ago. I want someone who can do something for Bombay. In addition, we expect speedy project clearances to be key for betterment of economy.
Deepak Parekh, Chairman, HDFC:
Past few years, the government was in slow motion but now we need to make Mumbai more attractive for business. 'Modi factor' will play a crucial role in Maharashtra elections but I think we are in for a coalition with a smaller party.
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