Last Updated:
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a stunning defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, being reduced to 50 seats.
Ambadas Danve said leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) are mulling going solo in future elections following the recent MVA rout. (PTI/File)
After a disappointing defeat in the recent Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the despondent Shiv Sena (UBT) lashed out at Congress for its “overconfidence” after the Lok Sabha elections, blaming it and their attitude during seat-sharing talks for the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) rout in the state.
Taking potshots at the state Congress leadership, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve said they were “overconfident after the victory in the Lok Sabha elections” and said Uddhav Thackeray should have been the “CM face” of the alliance. “Congress was overconfident after Lok Sabha elections. People of Congress were ready with coats and ties to divide portfolios,” he said.
“After winning the LS polls, the Congress seemed to have become extra over-confident… They were on the verge of winning Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and even Maharashtra… But some of their workers were seen discussing who would become the CM and Ministers or what portfolios they would get,” Danve said, as quoted by IANS.
ALSO READ: Uddhav Thackeray Facing UBT Leaders’ Heat To Quit MVA? Party Reacts
Rift Between Congress, Sena UBT After Election Loss
Danve’s remarks came after several party leaders raised murmurs of ‘ekla chalo’ (going solo) in the future elections during a “political autopsy” meeting presided over by Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday. Many leaders and workers of the SS-UBT have reportedly asked for the party to consider fighting the upcoming local bodies polls independently to start afresh following the recent drubbing.
The speculation was set off by Danve’s remarks, who said “some leaders believe that Shiv Sena (UBT) did not receive the desired support in the MVA-INDIA bloc. They have suggested that the party should strengthen itself and prepare to contest all 288 Assembly seats independently in future elections”
However, Danve on Thursday asserted his party will remain with the MVA, but said Uddhav should have been the CM face of the alliance, which could have swung “some 2-5 per cent of the votes” in the favour of the opposition. Sanjay Raut of the UBT camp has also said that the party won’t walk out of the alliance.
The MVA bloc suffered a wipeout in the Maharashtra elections, with Shiv Sena-UBT winning the largest seats (20) out of the 89 it contested. The Congress was reduced to 16 seats out of the 103 it contested and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP could only bag 10 seats. The defeat washed out their gains in the Lok Sabha elections, where it won 30 out of 48 seats.
BJP Slams Shiv Sena-UBT For ‘Selfish Politics’
Meanwhile, former BJP MP Navneet Rana on Thursday accused Uddhav Thackeray’s party of indulging in “selfish politics” and blaming the Congress for its “failure” in the assembly elections after Danve’s remarks. Rana said the Shiv Sena (UBT) was focusing on securing the CM post rather than working coherently with alliance partners.
“In 2019, when we contested, they had a few more seats, but they didn’t even like the alliance with the BJP. Today, when their seats are fewer, they don’t like the Congress alliance either. Whether they have more seats or fewer, they don’t like their alliances. From this, you can understand that those who are full of arrogance don’t like any partner, whether good or bad. They only do politics for their own self-interest and position,” she told IANS.
Congress leader Vishwajeet Patangrao Kadam also criticised Danve’s remarks, saying it was “unnecessary” to make such statements at this time. “I would prefer that our colleagues, who fought the election for the MVA, be supported and encouraged. It’s important to boost the morale of our workers and give them strength,” he said.
(with agency inputs)
