Admitting failure to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, leading to an unprecedented spike in infections not just in the state, but across India, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government has now deputed Maharashtra’s Covid Task Force to study why states where elections were held are not registering as much daily new cases and rate of infection as Maharashtra is currently experiencing. On focus also is the state of West Bengal, where mass election rallies are still ongoing, but cases are nowhere close to the daily additions being contributed by Maharashtra.
To the same effect, Textiles, Port, Fisheries and Mumbai city Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh has said, “We’ve asked COVID19 Task Force to study why cases are increasing only in Maharashtra and not in states where elections are being held. Many ministers are campaigning with mass gatherings there but there is no surge in COVID cases there.” Maharashtra on Friday reported the highest single-day spike of Covid-19 cases with 63,729 fresh infections, despite it not having elections around the corner.
We've asked COVID19 Task Force to study why cases are increasing only in Maharashtra and not in states where elections are being held. Many ministers are campaigning with mass gatherings there but there is no surge in COVID cases there: Maharashtra Minister Aslam Sheikh pic.twitter.com/7ye7Oj45bT
— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2021
As such, it must definitely be an eyesore of the highest order for Uddhav Thackeray and his government to watch states with elections being held faring much better on the Covid-19 tally, while the MVA government watches helplessly as it ruins the state of Maharashtra. The remarks were made by Aslam Shaikh a week ago. At the time, the total number of active cases in Assam stood at around 1500, while the figure in West Bengal was close to 21,000. Speaking of Maharashtra’s neighbours where elections were concluded earlier this month, Kerala had its fair share of active cases to account for at the time; around 40,000, followed by Tamil Nadu which had around 38,000.
In contrast, Maharashtra’s active case tally had crossed the 5,00,000 mark at the time, with at least 50,000 new daily additions being reported a week ago. Keeping in mind the numbers and statistics which speak volumes about the ineptitude of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government to control a public health crisis, the alleged Shiv Sena-led state machinery has tasked the Covid task force to find out why Maharashtra alone is reporting glorious highs in new infections, and in the process, the MVA government might also be wanting to learn some governance tactics from the poll bound states. Uddhav Thackeray is having to learn from Mamata Banerjee and Pinarayi Vijayan. There is not a single day when the ‘secular’ Shiv Sena fails to amuse us even more.