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Pawar’s remark comes days after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) announced that it would contest the elections to the local bodies alone.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar (File image)
Hinting towards a possible rift among the allies of Maha Vikas Aghadi, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Tuesday indicated that like Uddhav’s Sena, his party is would also contest the upcoming Mumbai civic polls alone.
Pawar said the INDIA bloc was formed only for national-level elections and nothing was discussed about contesting municipal or state polls together.
“When the INDIA bloc was formed, the discussion was only about national issues and elections. No discussion was held regarding local body polls or state polls,” Pawar said while addressing the media.
However, Pawar also stated that a meeting would be held among the MVA constituents to decide if the parties should go ahead with contesting the civic polls alone or stay in the alliance and fight together.
“The decision regarding the upcoming municipal elections in Maharashtra will be taken after holding a meeting in 8–10 days whether we will fight together or alone. We have communication within the alliance,” he added.
Pawar’s remark comes days after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) announced that it would contest the elections to the local bodies, including the one for the coveted Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), alone.
Uddhav Sena To Go Solo
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday confirmed that the party will contest local body elections alone. Announcing the decision, senior party leader Sanjay Raut said that there will be no alliance with the opposition coalition, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), for local elections.
“Right from Mumbai to Nagpur, we will fight the elections (local self-government) on our own strength. We want to see what happens,” Raut said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader r Anand Dubey also on Tuesday said that the INDIA alliance was formed for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. “It was the responsibility of the Congress party to take it forward. There is no meeting of the alliance. There is no chairman of the alliance.”
“Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest the Mumbai and Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections on its own because it is the demand of the workers… If they (Congress) had helped AAP, BJP’s victory would have been stopped. The fight is between AAP and BJP, but now Congress will cut AAP’s votes. Congress party should introspect,” he added.
Test For INDIA Bloc
The INDIA bloc alliance is set to witness a tough test since its allies Congress and AAP are contesting the Delhi polls alone against each other. It is important to note that the elections in the national capital will prove to be a testing time for the opposition alliance as its allies like Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress have extended their support to Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP ahead of the polls in the capital, scheduled to take place on February 5.
Pawar has also snubbed Congress and asserted that his party would support Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi elections. “In Delhi Assembly elections, my feeling is that we should help Arvind Kejriwal,” the former Maharashtra Chief Minister said.
