News Analysis India

Tag: Maha Vikas Aghadi

  • Lok Sabha Elections: Shiv Sena (UBT) firm on contesting from Sangli, nobody should do anything that will help BJP: Sanjay Raut

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that his party was firm on contesting from Maharashtra’s Sangli Lok Sabha seat, stressing that nobody should do anything that will directly help the BJP. Raut was responding to questions about Congress’ exasperation after his party on Wednesday announced its first list of 17 candidates, including for the Sangli seat and a few from Mumbai.

    The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) are partners in the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra.

    Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra assembly Vijay Wadettiwar had asked their MVA partner to reconsider its decision, stressing that it did not suit “coalition dharma”. Raut said there is always give and take in an alliance and they gave Ramtek and Kolhapur seats to the Congress. He said Sena (UBT) has also given Amravati to the Congress.

    “Even our local cadres were upset but we did not allow the resentment to spiral,” he said.

    Congress took Ramtek so Sena (UBT) said it would contest from Mumbai North. In an alliance, there is a need to strengthen and expand it, not individual parties, he said. “The Congress has to lead the nation and we support the party in its endeavour. Will Congress give up the fight against BJP just for one seat (Sangli),” he asked. If the opposition alliance stays together as a cohesive unit, MVA can easily win the Sangli seat, he said. Sena (UBT) has nominated wrestler Chandrahar Patil for Sangli.

    “If someone has other intentions to help the BJP indirectly, we will not allow that to happen,” he said.

    According to Congress leaders, the party is keen to contest from Sangli, Mumbai South Central and Mumbai North West seats, all included in the list released by Sena (UBT).

    Raut was also asked about the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) deciding to go solo in the Lok Sabha polls.

    He said it is Ambedkar’s duty to protect the Constitution and democracy. “I am sure Ambedkar will not take any step to help the BJP,” he added.

    Lok Sabha polls for Maharashtra’s 48 seats will be held in five phases between April 19 and May 20 and votes will be counted on June 4.

  • Shiv Sena: Days after Ambedkar snapped ties with Shiv Sena (UBT), Sanjay Raut says MVA hasn’t lost hope in VBA chief

    Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday said Maha Vikas Aghadi has not lost hope in Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar, days after the latter called off the tie-up with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in Maharashtra. Raut claimed public support is with MVA whose electoral victory would have been grand had VBA come along.

    Talking to reporters, Raut said Ambedkar should have accepted MVA’s proposal of four seats for Lok Sabha elections, but the Opposition camp has not lost hopes on the VBA.

    “There is public support for MVA. Our victory would have been grand had Balasaheb (Prakash) Ambedkar been with us. But this does not mean we are dependent on them,” he said. Noting that Ambedkar is a respectable leader with a good party organisation, Raut said MVA leaders held discussions and kept requesting him.

    “He should have accepted the (MVA) proposal. But we still have not lost hope on him,” he added.

    Ambedkar on Saturday said he was calling off the alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) and would declare his next move on March 26. “I am giving back their four seats,” he said on Monday. Contesting the MVA’s claim, the Dalit leader said VBA was officially offered only three seats including Akola.

    Ambedkar had virtually blamed Uddhav Thackeray for the break down of the 14-month-old alliance.

    “I had asked Uddhav Thackeray that Shiv Sena (UBT) and VBA should first sit together and chalk out strategy for a joint political path, but that didn’t happen. The VBA alliance with Sena (UBT) doesn’t exist any longer,” he had said.

    Ambedkar had also claimed that the internal strife in MVA allies- Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and Congress- doesn’t seem to end.

    The VBA had affected the prospects of UPA candidates in Nanded, Solapur, Hatkanangale, Beed, Parbhani and Sangli seats, to name a few, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which ultimately helped NDA.