The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, reeling from its defeat in the 2024 Assembly elections, faced a crucial test in the recent phase of civic body polls across Maharashtra. The results, however, have not provided the needed resurgence, instead pointing towards a potential long-term weakening of the opposition coalition. Analysts point to a glaring lack of coordination among its constituent parties and the absence of an intensive, unified campaign as primary reasons for the underwhelming performance.
Disappointing Numbers and a Daunting Road Ahead
Of the total 288 seats across various civic bodies in this phase, the Congress managed to secure the president's post in just 27 municipal councils. The performance of its allies was even more dismal, with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) restricted to single-digit tallies. This outcome sets a challenging precedent for the alliance, with elections to 29 major municipal corporations scheduled for January 15. Regrouping and mounting an effective challenge against the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which is buoyed by this initial success, now appears an uphill task for the MVA.
Contrasting Campaigns: Mahayuti's Aggression vs. MVA's Misdirection
The campaign trails of the two blocs presented a stark contrast. Top Mahayuti leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, toured the state extensively, campaigning vigorously even for these micro-level elections. Their concerted effort led alliance members to claim that the opposition had virtually conceded defeat in several areas.
Internally, a senior Congress leader and former cabinet minister criticized the party's own campaign strategy. He revealed to sources that the focus remained on technical grievances like alleged bogus voters and faulty electoral rolls, while pressing public concerns such as farmers' suicides, unemployment, and inflation were not adequately addressed. "The party did not have a planned campaign. As opposition, we should have been more vocal about issues such as kharif crop damage and farmers' suicides," the leader stated.
Internal Rifts and Strategic Dilemmas
The poor showing has sparked introspection and debate within the alliance, particularly in the Congress. A section within the party now believes it should assert itself independently and work to regain lost ground on its own, rather than operating under the shadow of its MVA allies. This sentiment hints at growing unease about the alliance's current structure and effectiveness.
However, political analyst Prakash Pawar cautioned against such a move, suggesting that going solo at this juncture may not benefit the Congress. The analysis indicates that fragmentation could further advantage the consolidated Mahayuti, leaving the opposition space more vulnerable. The coming weeks, leading up to the crucial municipal corporation polls, will be critical for the MVA to address its coordination issues, craft a compelling common agenda, and present a united front to the electorate.
