In a U-turn, Congress says it will contest local polls along with MNS

Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, who had been staunchly opposed to any association with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), reversed his position and told media persons here on Saturday evening that he is now willing to partner with the MNS for a “united fight” against the BJP in the upcoming local civic body elections.

“We are positive about a united fight, including the MNS,” Wadettiwar said, referring to NCP founder Sharad Pawar`s recent statement underlining the importance of opposition unity to defeat the BJP. “Ultimately, ideology matters, but we are positive about a united fight by including the MNS. Everyone must come together to defeat the BJP,” Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar told reporters on Saturday.

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Ironically, only two days ago, Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad had openly urged Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to give up his alliance with Raj Thackeray’s MNS and join hands with the Congress.

Earlier, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal too had stated several times in the recent past that there is absolutely no question of any tie-up with the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, especially due to his rhetoric against North Indians and Muslims, whose votes are considered important for the Congress.

Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar had consistently supported Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal’s hardline stand against the Raj Thackeray-led MNS.

Until senior Congress leader Wadettiwar’s surprising statement on Saturday, the Congress in Maharashtra appeared to be a divided house on allying with the Raj Thackeray-led MNS to contest the local civic body elections.

However, with senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar supporting a “united contest” along with the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, it remains to be seen what other Congress leaders like Harshwardhan Sapkal will say about such an alliance.