Amid seat-sharing talks failing with the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress has decided to go solo for the Mumbai civic polls, according to reports by Indian Express.
However, the Congress did not rule out a tie-up with the Sena (UBT) elsewhere without the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). According to the Congress, it will only go ahead with Sena (UBT) if it plans to fight the local body polls under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) banner. Meanwhile, the NCP (SP) on Wednesday said it will probably remain in the MVA fold.
"Congress wants to go solo. The Congress leadership left the decision (on BMC polls) to its local leadership. We had discussions with the Congress leadership …Now our discussions have come to a stop,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant told Indian Express that if the Sena (UBT) joins hands with MNS, his party would fight the BMC polls alone.
According to Sawant, the Congress cannot compromise on its ideology, principles and values. “If we go with MNS, who will vote for us ? Will the North Indians, the Muslims, vote for us ? The ideology of MNS and Congress are different, we cannot have any alliance with them,” said Sawant.
He said the Sena (UBT) never communicated to them about its firm intention to go with the MNS. “Had the Sena (UBT) communicated this decision that they intend to fight the polls with the MNS, we would have allowed them to do so,” said Sawant.
The Congress had 31 corporators before their term in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation expired in 2022.
The Congress said the alliance with the Sena (UBT) had broken off in Mumbai but not elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the NCP (S-P) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said they would probably remain with the MVA, but their decision would be announced in a couple of days. “So far, nothing is final,” said Tapase.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshavardhan Sapkal has held discussions with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Dr Prakash Ambedkar for a possible alliance on Monday night. said sources in the Congress. Sources told IE that the Congress has offered the VBA 20 per cent of the seats in BMC. The VBA has not yet conveyed its decision.
Voting for the BMC election in Mumbai will take place on January 15 and the counting of votes is set for January 16.
The polls are expected to witness a direct contest between two major alliances in the state - the ruling Mahayuti and the MVA.
The Mahayuti, which governs the state, comprises the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The main opposition alliance includes the Indian National Congress, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Shard Pawar-led faction of NCP-SP.
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