SP withdraws support to Maha Vikas Aghadi over Shiv Sena (UBT)'s stand on Babri mosque demolition

Mumbai: Fissures appeared within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi-I.N.D.I.A. bloc after the Samajwadi Party decided to quit the alliance over the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)'s stand on the Babri masjid demolition. 

The announcement was made by Maharashtra SP President Abu Asim Azmi.

The SP has two MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Azmi, who represents Mankhurd-Shivajinagar in Mumbai and Rais Shaikh, who is elected from the Bhiwandi East in Thane district. 

The position of SP chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on this issue is, however, not yet known.

The SP had sought 12 seats from the MVA, it contested six but bagged just two. In both the seats it won, the SP had the support of MVA. 

“Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed on the basis of secularism, if Shiv Sena (UBT) goes back to its communalism then SP dissociates itself from Maha Vikas Aghadi,” said Azmi.

“We are neither part of the ruling  MahaYuti nor opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi…we would ask (from the Speaker and Maharashtra Legislature secretariat) to allot us separate space for the two of us,” said Azmi. 

“There was no co-ordination in the MVA during seat sharing and later in the campaign too…they never used to call us for meetings…they did not call us for joint rallies,” said Azmi.

"Thackeray, in an internal meeting, has told his leaders and party workers to aggressively pursue the Hindutva agenda (ahead of the civic polls) . On December 6, the party posted a message on social media in favour of Babri mosque demolition. How can this be tolerated,” said Azmi.

Shaikh said that the MVA leadership never took SP into confidence. “Even today the MVA did not tell us that they would boycott the oath ceremony (on the issue of EVMs. Hence, we have taken oath,” he added. 

"Samajwadi Party was, is and will always be against EVM,” said Azmi. 

The SP is agitated because of a X post of Thackeray’s personal assistant and MLC Milind Narvekar hailing the demolition of the Babri masjid. The post had photos of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and MLC Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray, who is an MLC from Worli in Mumbai.

"Such posts hurt sentiments and go against the values of unity and respect for all communities. We are here to  promote harmony, not divide people,” said Azmi.

The MVA leadership involving Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) has not reacted to the development.

Shaikh said that Narvekar posted a tweet, and we have only responded to him. “The MVA was formed on two key principles: protecting the Constitution and upholding secular values. Shiv Sena has received votes in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha in the name of the MVA, with support from people of all religions and secular-minded individuals,” he added. 

However, NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Ahwad, when asked, said: “This has happened today…let us first talk.”