Fissures in MVA; Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) hints at going solo in local bodies polls

Mumbai: Fissures emerged in the Maha Vikas Aghadi as Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) hinted at going alone in the civic and local bodies elections, rattling the opposition allies Congress and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP).

In the recently-concluded Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) was in top of the opposition table with 20 seats followed by Congress, which bagged 16 seats and NCP (SP) 10.

The Vidhan Sabha results have come as a shocker for the opposition MVA-I.N.D.I.A. bloc after the roaring success in the Lok Sabha polls.

During the back-to-back review meetings, several top leaders including newly-elected MLAs and the candidates have conveyed that it is better to go alone.

“Some of them have expressed their opinion that Shiv Sena should strengthen itself in the 288 Assembly seats and next time contest the elections on its own strength,” Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve said.

“Losing elections is something that happens in politics. However, here it was something that was never expected and hence the thinking is coming before the party workers,” he added.

However, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said that the three parties have contested the polls together. “We also could say a similar thing,” said Wadettiwar, who is a former Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.

NCP (SP) chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said: “In local bodies our party gives freedom to local units to have alliance or contest alone. It differs from district.”