The Congress party in Maharashtra has taken a decisive step towards the upcoming municipal corporation elections, directing its local units to prepare for a full-fledged contest in every seat. This move comes as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance struggles to finalize a seat-sharing formula with less than a month remaining before the polls.
Alliance Uncertainty Spurs Independent Action
State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal convened a crucial meeting on Tuesday in Mumbai with district chiefs from regions heading to the civic polls. Attendees revealed that Sapkal conducted a thorough assessment of the party's readiness across all municipal corporations, irrespective of its alliance with MVA partners like the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP).
A senior Congress member present at the meeting explained the rationale behind the directive. They pointed out that during the recent assembly elections, MVA partners made a critical error by delaying seat-sharing talks, a mistake that seems to be repeating for the municipal polls. Furthermore, speculation is rife that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) might join forces with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in certain civic bodies. "In such a scenario, we cannot afford to wait for alliance finalisation. Therefore, we have initiated our own preparations," the leader stated.
Congress Sets Aggressive Candidate Selection Deadline
The party leadership has issued clear instructions to its local units: identify potential candidates for all seats and submit the list to the state unit chief for approval. Emphasizing the urgency, state Congress vice-president Mohan Joshi, who has been appointed as the in-charge of all municipal corporations, highlighted the short campaign window.
"This time, the campaign window is very short. Hence, we've asked local units to send candidate lists by December 20," Joshi said. The strategy is to finalize names swiftly so that nomination forms can be distributed immediately, giving candidates maximum time to campaign on the ground.
Strategic Implications for the MVA
This move by the Congress signals a strategic shift and places pressure on its MVA allies. While the party maintains its commitment to contesting as part of the MVA coalition, its independent preparation serves as a contingency plan. It underscores the growing impatience within the Congress ranks over the protracted alliance negotiations and the potential for last-minute political realignments, particularly involving the two NCP factions.
The directive to prepare solo ensures that the Congress is not caught off-guard and can field candidates effectively, even if the alliance talks break down or result in unfavorable terms. This proactive approach aims to reclaim the initiative and avoid being sidelined in the high-stakes battle for control of key municipal corporations in Maharashtra.
