In a display of unity, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners came together for a crucial meeting and decided to contest future elections as a cohesive front. The alliance revealed that Ambadas Danve, a leader from Shiv Sena (UBT) and former Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, will be their consensus candidate for the upcoming Council elections, with full backing from the Congress.
The meeting saw the participation of key leaders from all three alliance parties. The Congress delegation included state President Harshvardhan Sapkal, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and MLC group leader Satej (Bunty) Patil.
Representatives from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) and Shiv Sena (UBT) were also present, with discussions held over the phone with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala to strategize for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.
During a joint press briefing post the meeting, state Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal emphasized that the MVA was established on a “Common Minimum Programme” to safeguard the Constitution and uphold Maharashtra’s progressive values. He highlighted the alliance’s commitment to the legacies of historical figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, while opposing what they termed as regressive politics of the BJP-led Mahayuti.
Sapkal criticized the state government, alleging irregularities in the 2024 elections due to the “misuse of money and administration,” but affirmed the MVA’s acceptance of the results in adherence to democratic principles. He clarified that decisions on candidate selection were being made through mutual consultations within the coalition, with a priority given to the Congress in the upcoming elections.
While acknowledging past coordination challenges, Sapkal dismissed reports of internal discord, emphasizing that decisions were reached through mutual understanding and respect. He also mentioned the MVA’s intention to align its regional political strategies with the national ‘INDIA’ bloc in anticipation of the 2029 general elections.
Leaders of the alliance reiterated their commitment to challenging the BJP at the national level and the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. They pledged to adopt a unified strategy for local and state-level elections to protect democratic institutions and counter what they viewed as unconstitutional methods used to gain power in the state.
