Mumbai. The unity of the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi seems to be weakening in its attempt to defeat the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Frustrated with the stubbornness of Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) and Sharad Pawar faction of NCP, Maharashtra Congress is ready for ‘friendly fight’ on those seats on which Uddhav and Pawar factions are not ready to compromise.
Maharashtra unit leader of Congress Naseem Khan said that his party workers are unhappy with the unilateral announcement of candidates by Shiv Sena (UBT) and hence the state unit wants to have a ‘friendly contest’ on 6 Lok Sabha seats. Khan had said on Friday, ‘We held a meeting today and decided to tell the central leadership that we have a friendly contest on six seats, which include Sangli, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai North West and some other seats. The manner in which Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced its candidates on the seat claimed by Congress has angered our party workers.
‘Friendly fight will help BJP’
Let us tell you that Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced its candidates from Sangli, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai North West seats, while NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) is staking claim on Bhiwandi. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that such a contest will help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Taking a dig at the MVA ally, he said, ‘Congress is a mature party and I don’t think it will allow ‘friendly competition’ that will help the BJP.’ Raut said that there will be no discussion on the seat now.
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Senior leader of Sharad Pawar faction, Jayant Party has also criticized this planning of Congress. He said, ‘Friendly fight is not good. We are trying our best to stop this. Today I have met Prakash Ambedkar in Mahavikas Aghadi, discussions were held with him in the right direction… Our effort is that VBA should come with us…’
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Sanjay Nirupam supported
On the other hand, Sanjay Nirupam, angry with Shiv Sena fielding candidates from Sangli seat, supported the friendly fight and said, ‘I am grateful to the Congress leadership, they listened and understood the pain of the Congress workers… There should be a friendly fight on the 4 disputed seats, I I have heard that such a proposal has come. This proposal is very good, I support it.
Let us tell you that a meeting of Congress leaders was held on Friday, in which it was decided that permission will be sought from the central leadership for ‘friendly fight’ on 6 Lok Sabha seats in the state. After this, Maharashtra Congress held a meeting with the high command in Delhi on Sunday for a ‘friendly fight’ on those 6 seats. In the Delhi meeting, it was discussed whether the Congress will make sacrifices for its allies in Maharashtra or whether the Maharashtra Congress leaders will get the green signal for a friendly fight? So in such a situation, it has to be seen whether Maharashtra Congress gets permission for ‘friendly fight’ in this meeting or not?
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Tags: Congress, Loksabha Election 2024, Loksabha Elections, Maharashtra, MVA
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 1, 2024, 08:06 IST