Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday (September 4, 2024) said that there was no conflict within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over chief ministerial post ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in the State.
Mr. Pawar said there was no need for the MVA to declare a chief ministerial face before the elections. He said that the decision on the chief minister candidate would be made based on the number of seats each party in the alliance wins. “The chief ministerial candidate will be decided after the poll results, depending on which party secures the most number of seats,” Mr. Pawar said in Kolhapur.
He also called for the MVA to finalise its seat-sharing arrangement and begin campaign as soon as possible, proposing that talks start between September 7 and 9.
Further, Mr. Pawar called for the inclusion of smaller parties such as Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), CPI, and CPM in the discussions, noting their influence in specific regions and their previous support for the MVA in the Lok Sabha elections.
Mr. Thackeray, speaking separately in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, reiterated that the alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar), and the Congress remained united in its goal of toppling the Mahayuti government run by Shiv Sena, the BJP, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
He said that the Opposition alliance is focused on defeating the ruling coalition. “Our fight is not against anyone personally but against the (ruling) Maharashtra government. Overthrowing the current dispensation is our prime target,” he said. When asked about Mr. Pawar’s earlier remark that the MVA would decide on its chief ministerial candidate after the elections, Mr. Thackeray said, “Internal discussions will take place. Nobody is fighting for the post of chief minister.”
The Worli MLA also accused the ruling government of selling Mumbai to private interests. “A total of 256 saltpans in Mumbai are being handed over to Adani,” he said.
Published - September 04, 2024 04:21 pm IST
