GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 14th Jan. Amid reports of friction within the opposition alliance, Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president, clarified today that the INDIA bloc is only meant for national elections. Pawar’s statement follows remarks from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who echoed the same sentiment regarding the INDIA bloc and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes the Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP). Raut had earlier emphasized that both alliances were exclusively intended for Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
Speaking to the media, Sharad Pawar stated, “There has never been any talk regarding state and local elections in the INDIA alliance.” He further added, “Everyone will meet and decide on this (local body elections) in the next 10 days.”
Raut, addressing the challenges in forming an alliance for local body elections, pointed out that such elections are primarily driven by party workers and not suited for coalition arrangements. He expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc would remain intact for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, urging Congress, as the “larger partner,” to maintain unity among opposition parties.
Regarding the ongoing rivalry between AAP and Congress in Delhi, Pawar clarified that the INDIA bloc was intended solely for national elections. He acknowledged Delhi’s unique political landscape, where AAP has secured a majority twice. However, he suggested that a more unified approach could have been beneficial if AAP had been consulted.
Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, who serves as the working president of NCP (SP), further emphasized that local body elections have traditionally been contested solo by the parties, catering to the interests of the workers rather than forming alliances.
Congress, meanwhile, has yet to announce its position on contesting the local body elections, which are expected to be scheduled soon. The remarks come amidst growing speculation of a shift in the stance of Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) towards the BJP. Pawar dismissed such rumors, stating, “Not even a single MP of my party wants to go with BJP.”
The discussion also coincides with a recent editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, which criticized Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Uddhav Thackeray. Shah had accused Thackeray of “betrayal politics,” following the BJP’s strong performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections.
While the alliance between BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP secured a dominant 230 out of 288 seats in the state, reducing the MVA alliance’s tally to just 46, Pawar’s remarks underscore the ongoing tensions and complex dynamics within the opposition camp.
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