Divided opinion in MVA over Raj Thackeray’s entry in Opposition bloc

Mumbai: The process of local bodies elections in Maharashtra has commenced, however, the opinion in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is divided over the possible inclusion of Raj Thackeray-led MNS into the opposition bloc.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has pitched the idea of Raj’s induction into the opposition bloc with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Congress.

To take it forward, Uddhav is also expected to speak to Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is the Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

A large section of the Congress, which leads the I.N.D.I.A opposition bloc, are of the opinion of going alone in the local bodies elections and check its real strength on the ground after the diametrically opposite mandate in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

Besides, the Congress which banks on a large number of North Indian communities and Muslims, fear that the entry of Raj would erode its strength in certain pockets.

In fact, state Congress President Harshavardhan Sapkal has conveyed the sentiments to AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala, who looks after Maharashtra affairs for the party.

On the other hand, Pawar has signalled Congress to be pragmatic on the issue.

"If a good alternative emerges through consensus in MVA, the Congress should not take an extreme stance on the MNS (inclusion in MVA) and should think about it,” said Pawar, who is the chief architect of the MVA, the marquee opposition alliance formed in 2019 in the state.

“Any decision on MNS will be taken in Delhi by the party-high command…the Congress leads the I.N.D.I.A bloc nationally,” said Sapkal.

When the MVA raised the issue of vote-chori and discrepancies in voters’ list, Raj was part of the delegation which included Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Chockalingam and State Election Commissioner (SEC) Dinesh Waghmare. Besides, he also took part in the opposition parties morcha and rally demanding cleaning up of the electoral rolls.

With Raj and Uddhav burying their differences of two decades, there are chances of Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS in the urban pockets of the State particularly in the municipal corporations like Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Nashik.

A section of the Congress leadership has also flagged the issue of Raj's close bonding with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who calls the shots for the BJP.