Chaos in MVA: Congress, Thackeray Faction Field Rivals Against Each Other Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Polls

Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) consisting of Congress, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena is in the chaos. The contradicting stances within the coalition have surfaced just before the assembly elections, with all three parties fielding candidates against each other. Questions are being raised about whether these parties, unable to sustain their alliance, are fit to manage Maharashtra's governance.

Tensions are especially high between Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's faction, with heated exchanges reported among party leaders including Congress leader Nana Patole and Shiv Sena UBT Sanjay Raut.

MVA Fighting Amongst Themselves

In an unprecedented move, MVA coalition members are running candidates against each other in key constituencies like Paranda, South Solapur, Digras, and Miraj. In Digras, Congress leader Manikrao Thackeray is being challenged by Uddhav Thackeray's ally, Pawan Jaiswal, while in Miraj, the Congress has pitted Mohan Wankhede against Uddhav Thackeray's Tanaji Satpute. In South Solapur, the Congress's Dilip Mane is contesting against Uddhav Thackeray's Amar Patil. Similar clashes are unfolding in the Bhaykhala constituency, where the Congress's Madhu Anna Chavan is standing against Manoj Jamsutkar from the Uddhav Thackeray faction. The situation is further complicated by internal allegations that Sanjay Raut sold seats to the Sharad Pawar group, adding fuel to existing tensions within the coalition.

Despite efforts to appease party members, local leaders within the Congress are reportedly displeased with candidate selections, leading to protests, stone-pelting, and heightened demands for candidate changes. Uddhav Thackeray's faction has also faced issues with misprinted candidate lists, sparking further dissent within both the Congress and Thackeray camps.

Mahayuti

Meanwhile, the Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP demonstrates significantly greater unity. The BJP has strategically allocated local leaders to support the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar's NCP group, ensuring that seats remain within the alliance despite member shifts. This level of coordination has positioned the Mahayuti as a formidable opponent, casting doubt on the MVA's ability to present a united front in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.