Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief party spokesperson, has written to the Congress ‘high command’ in Delhi opposing Congress Maharashtra chief Harshwardhan Sapkal’s stance against including the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, Congress sources said on Thursday.
When asked to react to the development, Congress Maharashtra state unit chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said, “At present, there is no discussion about including MNS as part of the MVA alliance. Therefore, there is no question of anybody complaining when there has been no discussion about this. Nothing has happened to make anybody complain. I am not aware of any complaint.”
“It would be appropriate to talk about it only after the proposal for an alliance with MNS comes. It is not appropriate for me to comment on it personally, because I am the state president of the Congress. Whenever such proposals come, I constantly try to discuss these proposals with everyone and reach a consensus. The proposal for an alliance with MNS has not come yet. Therefore, there is no reason to think about it,” Sapkal said.
However, Congress sources said that a section within the Congress is opposed to Raj Thackeray’s MNS being included in the Congress-led opposition MVA alliance because doing so could alienate North Indian and Muslim voters. Since these voters are considered the traditional pillars of the Congress, the party cannot afford to alienate these voters in the Maharashtra local body elections, given Raj Thackeray’s stand against North Indians, Congress sources said.
Sources said that differences exist between the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, which are two major parties in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), regarding including the Raj Thackeray-led MNS in the MVA. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who has already allied with Raj Thackeray’s MNS, is keen to ensure that the MNS is included in the opposition MVA alliance, but the Congress has apprehensions of alienating North Indian and Muslim voters, sources said.
Yet, when Raj Thackeray was asked about whether MNS would ally with the Congress-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) recently, Raj said, “I have already been part of the MVA”, signalling his willingness to be part of the MVA again.
Significantly, Raj Thackeray’s reaction came despite a statement issued by MNS leaders a few days ago that “We did not approach the Congress for any alliance. Raj Thackeray alone will take the final decision”.
According to Congress sources, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief party spokesperson Sanjay Raut’s written complaint to the Congress top leadership seems to be a reaction to recent statements by Congress Maharashtra state unit chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, who had spoken out against including the Raj Thackeray-led MNS in the opposition MVA alliance.
It may be recalled that on Thursday, October 7, Congress Maharashtra state unit chief Harshwardhan Sapkal had expressed his reservations about including the Raj Thackeray-led MNS in the Congress-led opposition MVA alliance and said, “Our negotiations (regarding local civic body election alliances) will be held at the local level. Therefore, our local leadership at the district, block, and municipal levels will make decisions. We have left all these matters to their decision. Therefore, Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) do not need another new constituent”.
Later on October 13, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut told media persons that his party is in talks with top leaders of the Congress, exploring the possibility of including Raj Thackeray and his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in the Congress-led opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to fight the forthcoming local civic body elections in Maharashtra.
Replying to a question about whether Raj Thackeray and his MNS would be part of the MVA to fight the forthcoming local civic body elections in Maharashtra, Sanjay Raut said on October 13, “Raj Thackeray desires that the Congress, which is a constituent of the MVA, should be taken along. This is his stand. But this does not mean any decision has been taken about this”.
Raut said that he has spoken to All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K C Venugopal about “certain issues” and will also talk to Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. Raut also said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will also talk to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
“Everyone has a place in Maharashtra state politics. (Uddhav Thackeray-led) Shiv Sena has its place, MNS also has a place, and so does Sharad Pawar-led NCP, as well as the Left parties. For instance, our stand is that Congress should be part of the all-party delegation. Even Raj Thackeray is of the same opinion,” Sanjay Raut said.