Sharad Pawar sparks MVA rift speculation ahead of India's civic polls

Photo: PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar made a significant statement on Tuesday, hinting that his party might follow the path of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and contest the upcoming Mumbai civic elections independently. This remark has added to speculations about a possible rift within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Pawar clarified that the INDIA alliance, formed by opposition parties, was primarily meant for national elections and discussions had not included local body or state elections.

"When the INDIA bloc was created, the focus was entirely on national-level issues and elections. There was no conversation about state-level or municipal elections," Pawar said.

However, he also added that the final decision on whether to contest the municipal elections together or separately would be made after a meeting among MVA allies. "In the upcoming municipal elections in Maharashtra, we will meet in the next 8–10 days to decide whether to fight together or go alone. Communication is ongoing within the alliance," he said.

Pawar’s comments come just days after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) announced its decision to contest the local body elections, including the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, independently. The Shiv Sena, historically, has held significant control over the BMC since the 1970s.

This move has sparked questions about the strength of the MVA alliance, especially after its poor performance in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. The MVA managed to win only 46 seats in total, with Shiv Sena (UBT) securing 20, Congress winning 16, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) claiming 10 seats.

The disappointing results have led to internal tensions within the MVA. Some leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) have reportedly urged Uddhav Thackeray to consider parting ways with the alliance and contesting future elections independently.

Meanwhile, there has been growing speculation about a potential reunion between the NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Ajit Pawar. This was fueled by a recent statement from Ajit Pawar’s mother, who expressed her hope for all members of the Pawar family to unite. Earlier this month, Sharad Pawar’s praise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also added to the rumors of reconciliation.

In a separate statement, Sharad Pawar also expressed his support for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying, "For the Delhi Assembly elections, I believe we should help Arvind Kejriwal."

As the civic elections draw closer, these developments indicate potential shifts in Maharashtra’s political landscape, with the MVA alliance’s unity being closely watched.

#trending #latest #SharadPawar #MVA #MumbaiCivicPolls #NCP #ShivSenaUBT #BMC #MaharashtraPolitics #INDIAAlliance #Election2024 #PoliticalUpdates #breakingnews #trendingnews #DXBIndiaNews #BreakingNewsIndia #IndiaUpdates #GlobalIndiaNews #TrendingInIndia #DXBTrending #IndiaHeadlines #TopStoriesIndia #MiddleEastMeetsIndia #ViralIndiaNews #SouthAsiaNews #AllIndianews #breakingsportsnews #breakingPoliticalnews #breakingFinancenews #breakingregionalnews #Entertainmentnews #Educationnews #technologynews #DXBIndia

Simple yoga poses to help reduce PCOD symptoms and balance hormones... Read More.

RPSC has released the RAS Preliminary Exam 2024 admit cards today, January 30, 2025.... Read More.