Following the defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, dissent within the opposition coalition Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) has surfaced. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve accused Congress of excessive confidence. Danve claimed that post-Lok Sabha victories, Congress ceased valuing its allies, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar).
In the assembly elections, MVA secured only 46 out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning 20, Congress 16, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) 10 seats. However, the coalition managed to secure 30 out of 48 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
During a media interaction, the Shiv Sena leader stated, after the Lok Sabha elections, Congress was overly confident. The situation in Jammu-Kashmir, Haryana, and Maharashtra was beneficial for Congress. The JMM demonstrated its strength by performing exceptionally well in Jharkhand.
Congress Lost Its Edge
He stated that Congress lost its initial lead in Haryana, and despite an anti-incumbency wave, the BJP secured a consecutive third term. In Jammu and Kashmir, Congress failed to make an impact in the Jammu region, allowing the BJP to win there. However, with support from Congress, the India bloc ally National Conference formed the government. Jharkhand witnessed the formation of a government under the JMM-led coalition, with JMM winning 34 out of 81 seats, while Congress took 16.
He alleged Congress's failure to prioritize allies, leading to contentious seat-sharing discussions until the last moment, hurting the coalition. This situation even led to some Congress candidates losing their deposits.
'Ten Congress Leaders Wanted to be CM'
The Shiv Sena leader claimed, 'Even before winning the elections, some Congress leaders had started discussing portfolios, with ten showing interest in the Chief Minister's position.'
He noted that if Uddhav Thackeray had been projected as the MVA's Chief Ministerial candidate, it might have swayed 2-5% of votes in their favor. Public opinion stood with Thackeray due to his administration as Chief Minister from 2019 to 2022.
He emphasized that wherever Shiv Sena (UBT) contested, the vote share increased, and the candidates expressed to Uddhav Thackeray that the party would strive for additional seats independently to secure power in Maharashtra.
'We Never Said...'
Responding to a question, he asserted, 'We never claimed Shiv Sena (UBT) was leaving the MVA. Shiv Sena (UBT) should enhance its strength across all 288 assembly seats.'
Meanwhile, introspection continues within Congress, as senior leaders review the reasons for the defeat. This loss for MVA has raised serious questions about coordination and strategy within the alliance, casting doubt on its unity in the future.
