Senior Congress leader from Kerala and the party’s Maharashtra in-charge, Ramesh Chennithala, said in Pune on Tuesday that the Congress-led INDIA alliance has “no problem” with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) joining hands.
Significantly, Chennithala’s statement came just days after Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP and chief spokesperson, Sanjay Raut, said that INDIA bloc leaders had no objection to the Thackeray cousins joining forces politically.
“If the two (Thackeray) brothers are coming together, we (Congress-led INDIA alliance) have no problem. There may or may not be an alliance between the two in the forthcoming elections. Raj Thackeray is not part of our Maha Vikas Aghadi. Therefore, we do not know if there has been any discussion about an alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. But if both brothers are joining hands, we have no issue with it. As for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, we will discuss the matter in detail during our political affairs committee meeting,” Chennithala told reporters.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chennithala attended a residential workshop for newly appointed Congress office-bearers in Pune, where senior party leaders were present. After the event, while interacting with the media, he was asked about the possibility of an alliance between the MNS and Shiv Sena ahead of the forthcoming local civic body elections in Maharashtra.
“The BJP is working to dismantle democracy and the Constitution in the country. Vote rigging is being carried out with the help of the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi has exposed vote rigging in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka. Democracy and the Constitution are in danger today, and Rahul Gandhi is fighting to save them. This battle is big and difficult, but we will all stand firmly behind Rahul and win this fight,” Chennithala said.
“The country is going through a difficult phase. We do not have good relations with neighbouring countries. America is threatening India, but the Prime Minister remains silent. When Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, no country—let alone America—dared to threaten India. If Rahul Gandhi says something about China, even Supreme Court judges comment on it. Will the court now decide who is patriotic?” he asked.
“Rahul Gandhi posed a question to the Election Commission, and the Commission should answer it. Instead, why is Fadnavis responding? Is Fadnavis the Chief Minister of the state or the Election Commissioner,” Chennithala said.