Kolhapur: The Congress-NCP attempt to bring together all anti-BJP parties is likely to get a major setback with Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), led by Raju Shetti, deciding to contest seven Lok Saha seats independently.SSS is upset that the Congress and NCP have failed to respond to two issues that concern farmers. The silence of Congress and NCP to the sugar factories’ failure to pay fair and remunerative price (FRP) to cane farmers comes as the last straw on the camel’s back.The SSS decision comes in the wake of Prakash Ambedkar’s determination to contest all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. Ambedkar also blamed Congress for not considering his demands seriously.SSS Maharashtra president Ravikant Tupkar, who has been vocal on snapping ties with Congress-NCP, confirmed with TOI that they have started preparations to fight the elections independently. SSS has decided to contest four Lok Sabha seats in Western Maharashtra, two in Vidarbha and one seat in north Maharashtra. SSS is also exploring options whether it could field candidates from other Lok Sabha seats.Tupkar said the party was willing to bring together all anti-BJP parties in Maharashtra but the response from Congress and NCP was far from satisfactory. Tupkar said Congress-NCP wanted to give up only one seat – Hatkangale – which Raju Shetti has already won twice. “They are not doing any big favour to us by giving up Hatkanagale. We have asked for seven seats and will fight there,” he said.Sources in SSS said that party had sought concrete assurance from Congress and NCP on the issue of complete loan waiver to farmers and 150 per cent of the production cost as assured price on agriculture produce. Both parties have been silent on the demand, sources said.Tupkar said, “Farmers’ interests are on top of our agenda and that is why we quit NDA and we don’t want to take any risk by joining hands with NCP and Congress now.” Sources in SSS said Maharashtra Congress leaders took up the issue of SSS demands with the party high command, which was not willing to promise anything.SSS leadership has been under pressure from its followers to contest the election independently from the beginning. This section used to argue that SSS has been fighting against Congress and NCP for a long period as both of them control majority of the sugar factories in the state. Joining hands with these parties would not serve the fundamental purpose in the long run, they contend.SSS leader Raju Shetti has already suspended all talks with the two concerned parties when tshe cane bill issue took a serious turn in western Maharashtra.Cane growing farmers, which are backbone of SSS, were disturbed because of the stand adopted by sugar factories on FRP based payment.Shetti has already announced that he would not hold any talks unless cane bill issue is resolved. Shetti continues to take an aggressive stand on delay and part payment to farmers even as its major demand to give sugar instead of money has been agreed.SSS has declared that it would contest Kolhapur, Hatkangale, Sangli, Madha, Dhule-Nandurbar, Buldhana and Vardha seats. The party is determined to contest from Madha even though Sharad Pawar is NCP candidate there.

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