In a significant political development ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) has called for a united opposition front against the Bharatiya Janata Party, creating tension within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.
Congress's Independent Stance Creates Alliance Rift
The political landscape in Mumbai witnessed fresh turmoil as Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, along with a delegation of party leaders, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar recently to discuss election strategy. This meeting came amidst the Congress party's surprising announcement that it intends to contest the crucial BMC polls independently, without alliance partners Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
The Mumbai Congress had specifically proposed fighting the elections solely with their traditional ally NCP (SP), excluding both Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray's MNS from the proposed arrangement. During the meeting, Pawar assured the Congress delegation that he would consult with his Mumbai leadership before conveying a final decision.
NCP (SP) Workers Demand United Front
Following the Congress meeting, NCP-SP leaders conducted their own strategic meeting on Saturday to discuss the upcoming BMC elections. The outcome revealed a clear preference for alliance unity among party workers and leaders.
NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad explicitly stated after the meeting that "the workers and leaders have conveyed that the election should be fought as an MVA and with all our other allies against the BJP." He emphasized the critical importance of natural allies remaining united for the larger political objective.
When questioned about Congress's reluctance to align with MNS, Awhad clarified that the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had not yet formally proposed an alliance, making the discussion irrelevant at this stage. He reinforced the party's consistent position from "Delhi to galli" being identical - to defeat the BJP through united opposition efforts.
Congress Stands Firm on Independent Strategy
The Congress party appears determined to pursue its independent path despite pressure from alliance partners. Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala had previously announced that the Mumbai unit received permission to contest the civic polls independently, citing the local leadership's desire to test their own strength after making compromises during recent Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections.
Reacting to the NCP-SP meeting, Mumbai Congress chief spokesperson Sachin Sawant maintained that "every party has a right to decide its strategy of contesting polls" while refraining from commenting on other parties' electoral approaches. This stance indicates the Congress's commitment to its declared independent strategy despite alliance pressures.
Political sources suggest that the NCP (SP) is likely to proceed with contesting the elections in alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT), given Congress's firm stance on going solo. This development could potentially reshape Mumbai's political equations ahead of the critical BMC elections that will determine control over India's richest municipal corporation.
