In a gesture signalling the solidarity of the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance even after the fall of its government, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader and former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Friday joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Hingoli district.
Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Thackeray were seen walking side-by-side, waving to the cheering crowds along their route.
Accompanying Mr. Thackeray was Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve and former MLA Sachin Ahir.
Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief could not join the yatra owing to health reasons.
The cross-country foot-march entered its fifth day in Maharashtra and its 65th day since it began in September this year.
Mr. Thackeray joining the yatra assumes significance ahead of crucial civic polls due in the State, particularly the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election where the stakes are high for the political survival of the Thackeray clan.
Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray joined Rahul Gandhi in the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Hingoli on Nov. 11. Photo: Twitter/@Supriya23bh
The gesture is heavily symbolic given that there were strong doubts regarding the survival of the tripartite MVA alliance after the toppling of the erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government (of the Sena, the NCP and the Congress) following Eknath Shinde’s revolt.
Recently, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Nana Patole, known for his ‘Congress will go it alone’ refrain, also had remarked that the Shiv Sena and his party were “not natural allies”.
According to sources, with the Maharashtra Congress State unit talking of contesting the BMC poll independently, Mr. Thackeray’s participation in the yatra may lead to a change in the equations and the three parties could contest the civic polls jointly as MVA.
On Thursday, NCP State party chief Jayant Patil, Baramati MP Supriya Sule and former Minister Jitendra Awhad had joined Mr. Gandhi’s yatra.
While NCP chief Sharad Pawar, too, was expected to join the yatra on Friday, he could not participate owing to health issues.
