The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance is facing internal discord following its resounding defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, with calls growing within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) to sever ties with the coalition.
A significant number of the party’s 20 MLAs reportedly urged Uddhav Thackeray to consider this course during a meeting on Monday. Sources reveal that grassroots members of the Shiv Sena (UBT), overshadowed by the Eknath Shinde-led faction’s impressive 57-seat tally, are increasingly questioning the efficacy of the MVA.
Despite the mounting pressure, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, are keen to maintain the alliance to present a unified opposition against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Many of our MLAs feel it is time for the Shiv Sena (UBT) to forge an independent path, contest elections on its own, and not rely on any alliance. The Shiv Sena was never meant to chase power… It will come naturally when we remain steadfast in our ideology,” remarked Ambadas Danve, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Danve suggested that operating independently would enable the party to rebuild its foundation.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has been grappling with significant challenges since the 2022 split, when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion, taking most of the party’s MLAs and MPs. This factional conflict resulted in the loss of the party’s name and symbol to the Shinde faction. Critics within the party argue that by allying with the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has deviated from the ideological principles of its founder, Bal Thackeray, particularly on the issue of Hindutva.
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