Uddhav-Raj bonhomie ahead of Maharashtra local polls: Alliance partner Congress watching with caution

Mumbai: Days before the mega gathering of Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj, the Congress, which leads the I.N.D.I.A. opposition bloc is keeping its fingers crossed.

In case Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS come together politically, in the run up to the Maharashtra local bodies elections, the Congress, which is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, will have to tread a cautious path.

The MVA comprises Congress, Sharad Pawar-head NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) headed by Uddhav, a former Maharashtra chief minister.

“Whether to include MNS within the ambit of the MVA or the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS would come as an alliance is a critical question,” sources in the Congress said.

At the July 5 victory rally, state Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal is going to be present.

On July 7, the Congress leadership is expected to meet in Mumbai to discuss the local bodies polls, which will be presided over by AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala.

Top leaders including Sapkal and Mumbai Congress president Prof Varsha Gaikwad would be present.

Meanwhile, former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that the Congress will discuss with UBT Sena and NCP (SP) leadership and “sub-alliance” would be left to them.

"If we go in an alliance (in the local body polls), we will have a seat sharing with the leaders of the alliance partners, that is Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SP). Now, with whom they do a sub-alliance is entirely their situation, If the person is completely against the values that the Congress stands for, then we will raise some objections; otherwise, it is an internal family matter and how they do seat adjustments in case we go with an alliance (in the local body polls),” Chavan was quoted saying by PTI.

Meanwhile, a large number of Congress leadership on the ground feel that the grand old party needs to go solo in the polls. “The municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra have been pending for the last three to four years. The local leadership wants to go alone,” sources said.