Mumbai: On Sunday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar announced that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will jointly contest the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. The alliance, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), Congress, and other partners, will soon commence discussions on seat-sharing arrangements.
Pawar stated at a press conference, “Our objective remains consistent. The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress will fight the elections together. Discussions on seat allocation will start soon. We have three months to finalize our strategy.” He highlighted the collective responsibility of the major parties within the MVA to protect the interests of smaller allies who supported the coalition during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the MVA made a significant impact, securing 31 out of 48 seats. The Congress led with 13 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) with nine and NCP with eight.
The MVA had governed Maharashtra from November 2019 until June 2022, when the Uddhav Thackeray-led government collapsed following a rebellion by Eknath Shinde. Shinde then aligned with Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP to form the Mahayuti alliance. In July of the previous year, Ajit Pawar defected to the ruling government after leading a rebellion against his uncle Sharad Pawar, resulting in a split within the NCP.
Sharad Pawar also affirmed that the Opposition coalition has a moral obligation to effect a change in the state’s leadership. Regarding the seat-sharing discussions, Pawar mentioned that negotiations have not yet started but are expected to begin shortly. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has recently signaled the continuation of the alliance, stating on June 15, "The Lok Sabha poll victory for Maha Vikas Aghadi is not the end, but rather the beginning."
However, there was a recent divergence within the alliance concerning the appointment of a chief ministerial candidate. While NCP state president Jayant Patil suggested avoiding the declaration of a chief ministerial candidate, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut argued that it would be challenging to approach the election without naming a potential chief ministerial face. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, which currently governs Maharashtra, includes Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, the BJP, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, along with several smaller partners.
Eleven Bangladeshi Nationals Arrested at Agartala Railway Station in Illegal Entry Attempt
Are the symptoms of stomach cancer different in men and women? Identify the symptoms in time
