<p>Mumbai: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi will soon be holding discussions and take a call on who will be contesting the forthcoming local bodies polls in Maharashtra.</p><p>The indication came from Sharad Pawar, the chief architect of MVA and a top leader of the I.N.D.I.A. opposition bloc. </p><p>A week ago, state Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal said that he would soon be meeting Pawar and Thackeray to start initial discussions. </p> .<p>“As the Supreme Court has directed that municipal elections be conducted in the state, the process will begin soon,” Pawar told reporters in his Baramati hometown in Pune district. </p><p>“Though we have not yet held discussions with the Congress, our party, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), the Shetkari Kamgar Paksha, and other parties will come together and explore the possibility of contesting the polls together. A final decision will be taken, as we wish to fight the polls together,” he said.</p> .<p>Asked whether the MVA would jointly contest the civic polls in Mumbai, he said no such discussion has taken place so far.</p><p>According to Pawar, among the three main MVA parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has a strong base in Mumbai. “We will take their opinion into consideration,” said Pawar, a four-time Maharashtra chief minister. </p><p>Pawar statement comes a day after Thackeray dared the BJP with “come on, kill me” and “ambulance” jibes.</p><p>To a question on Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra, Pawar said it should not be made mandatory. “It should remain optional. Those who want to choose Hindi can opt for it. Just because 50 to 60 per cent of the population speaks Hindi, the language cannot be made compulsory for everyone,” he said.</p>
<p>Mumbai: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi will soon be holding discussions and take a call on who will be contesting the forthcoming local bodies polls in Maharashtra.</p><p>The indication came from Sharad Pawar, the chief architect of MVA and a top leader of the I.N.D.I.A. opposition bloc. </p><p>A week ago, state Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal said that he would soon be meeting Pawar and Thackeray to start initial discussions. </p> .<p>“As the Supreme Court has directed that municipal elections be conducted in the state, the process will begin soon,” Pawar told reporters in his Baramati hometown in Pune district. </p><p>“Though we have not yet held discussions with the Congress, our party, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), the Shetkari Kamgar Paksha, and other parties will come together and explore the possibility of contesting the polls together. A final decision will be taken, as we wish to fight the polls together,” he said.</p> .<p>Asked whether the MVA would jointly contest the civic polls in Mumbai, he said no such discussion has taken place so far.</p><p>According to Pawar, among the three main MVA parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has a strong base in Mumbai. “We will take their opinion into consideration,” said Pawar, a four-time Maharashtra chief minister. </p><p>Pawar statement comes a day after Thackeray dared the BJP with “come on, kill me” and “ambulance” jibes.</p><p>To a question on Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra, Pawar said it should not be made mandatory. “It should remain optional. Those who want to choose Hindi can opt for it. Just because 50 to 60 per cent of the population speaks Hindi, the language cannot be made compulsory for everyone,” he said.</p>