The heat of the upcoming Maharashtra elections is rising, with significant developments in both the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the election approaches, the MVA alliance—comprising Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction)—continues to struggle with internal differences, particularly regarding seat-sharing.
A scheduled meeting of the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) in Delhi was postponed, reflecting growing tensions within the alliance. The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena issued a warning that it would not participate in negotiations if Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Nana Patole is present. These tensions have delayed the finalization of seat distribution within the alliance, despite ongoing discussions.
In an effort to resolve the internal conflicts, Uddhav Thackeray convened an emergency meeting at his residence, attended by senior leaders of his faction. It was reported that a key decision regarding the upcoming elections was taken during this meeting. Meanwhile, Uddhav’s group insists that there are no significant issues within the alliance, downplaying the rift with Congress.
The role of NCP leader Sharad Pawar remains crucial as he has been contacted to mediate the growing rift between Congress and the Uddhav faction. Pawar had previously announced that a consensus had been reached on the allocation of 200 seats within the alliance, though the ground reality seems to tell a different story.
Congress leaders are reportedly frustrated with the behavior of Sanjay Raut, a key leader in the Shiv Sena’s Uddhav faction. Maharashtra PCC chief Nana Patole accused Uddhav Thackeray of being influenced by Raut, alleging that Raut is responsible for stalling the progress of alliance talks. Uddhav, however, dismissed the allegations, stating that Congress should not interfere in the internal affairs of his party.
Despite these tensions, Congress has been preparing for the upcoming elections and will hold a CEC meeting in Delhi on Monday to finalize its candidate list. Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala hinted that the party would announce its candidates within two days, although he did not specify the number of seats Congress will contest.
As Congress grapples with internal conflicts and seat-sharing negotiations, they are also mindful of avoiding the mistakes made in the recent Haryana assembly elections. The party’s high command has issued a strict warning to its leaders, instructing them to refrain from commenting on internal issues and to focus on ensuring smooth alliances with their partners.
While the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance is still sorting out its issues, the BJP is moving ahead confidently. The BJP has released its first list of 99 candidates for the Maharashtra elections, demonstrating their readiness to contest the election. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be contesting from Nagpur South West, and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrasekhar Bhankule is set to contest from the Kamti seat.
With the BJP already making significant strides, the question now is whether the Maha Vikas Aghadi can resolve its differences in time to present a united front in the elections.
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