Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
A day after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray’s meeting with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence in Mumbai sparked a buzz in the political circles of Maharashtra, Mr. Pawar on Wednesday said that while each party may have differing views over an issue, all three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents — NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) — should publicly “speak with one voice”.
Mr. Thackeray’s 90-minute meeting with Mr. Pawar on Tuesday evening came amid fresh speculation of a rift and coordination woes within the MVA. Mr. Thackeray called on Mr. Pawar accompanied by Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who is known for his affinity to the NCP chief.
“Although each party may have different opinions, we are of the opinion that all three parties should speak with one voice as the MVA. Accordingly, it was decided [at the meeting with Mr. Thackeray] that [top] leaders of all three parties should participate in joint programmes,” Mr. Pawar said in Pune.
The NCP chief’s own statements of late — be it on the Savarkar issue or on the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe against the Adani Group — have been in stark contrast to the stance taken by the Congress, with the potential to trigger schism within the tripartite MVA Opposition.
Meanwhile, stressing that there were “no differences” within the MVA alliance, Mr. Raut said the talks between Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Pawar were extremely constructive and that the future course of the MVA alliance was discussed at the meeting.
“There is no difference of opinion between us. If somebody is spreading this misperception, then they are trying to mislead A number of issues pertaining to political developments were discussed at the meeting. The future course of the MVA’s direction was discussed We particularly talked about how the BJP was blackmailing opposition”.
Mr. Raut said it was decided that whatever the pressure mounted by the BJP through the Central agencies, the MVA would not succumb to it and it would stay united and jointly contest future elections.
Echoing Mr. Raut, the Maharashtra Congress said that the BJP was deliberately spreading misinformation about alleged disunity between the MVA partners as it was wary of the growing strength of the Opposition.
While the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the BJP have questioned the absence of Congress leaders at the Thackeray-Pawar meet, State Congress president Nana Patole questioned what was the harm in MVA leaders meeting each other separately.
“There is no need to read anything deep in it [Thackeray-Pawar meeting]…the BJP cannot stomach the MVA’s successes and hence is deliberately trying to mislead people by creating the perception of a divided Opposition,” said Mr. Patole.
However, notwithstanding Mr. Patole’s show of solidarity, the State Congress chief has had an edgy relationship with not just his MVA allies, particularly Mr. Pawar and Mr. Raut, but also with senior Congressmen like Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan.
Recently, Mr. Patole had accused the NCP of contesting the upcoming Bazaar Committee (APMC) polls in collusion with the BJP, hinting that Mr. Pawar’s party frequently changed colours when it suited them.
Despite Mr. Patole and Mr. Raut’s assertions that “everything was fine” with the MVA alliance, NCP leader Ajit Pawar rapped Mr. Patole today for making needlessly controversial statements with the potential to create rifts within the MVA.
“I fail to understand why Nana Patole keeps making such statements [NCP contesting Bazaar Committee polls with the BJP] with a potential to create divisions within our alliance. Instead of going to the media, he ought to discuss such matters with me or [NCP State president] Jayant Patil or [Sena(UBT) leaders]Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray. This [making statements adverse to oppositional unity] must stop,” said Mr. Ajit Pawar, in a sharp riposte to Mr. Patole.
Mr. Patole’s blunt talk has often embarrassed his MVA allies and elements within his own Congress party. Last year, at the Congress’ ‘Chintan Shivir’ in Udaipur in Rajasthan, Mr. Patole had submitted complaints to the party high command pertaining to the NCP’s “consistent betrayal” of the Congress and its alleged efforts to undermine the party in Maharashtra.
