Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil on Thursday dispelled rumours of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray switching sides to the ruling BJP-led NDA, emphasising Thackeray’s commitment to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
Following the recent Lok Sabha elections where Shiv Sena (UBT) and BJP each secured nine seats in Maharashtra, Patil, alongside NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, clarified Thackeray’s dedication to the MVA.
The opposition bloc, including Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress, achieved success by winning 30 out of 48 seats in the state.
During a press conference, Patil assured of Thackeray’s focus on establishing an MVA government in anticipation of the upcoming state assembly polls in October.
“There is no chance that he will switch sides,” Patil said when asked about speculation that started after Thackeray skipped a key INDIA bloc meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday and reports in a section of the media about backchannel moves for a rapprochement with the BJP-led grouping.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut represented the party in the meeting.
Patil said Thackeray, a former chief minister, is geared up to install a coalition government in the state, where assembly polls are due in October this year.
As discussions about potential shifts in loyalties among MVA leaders surfaced, Patil refrained from elaborating but highlighted the unrest among the public towards the current state government.
He also acknowledged the need for vigilance to prevent any betrayals in the upcoming elections.
Amidst uncertainties regarding NCP MLAs loyal to deputy CM Ajit Pawar and potential realignments post-election results, Patil emphasised a cautious approach, citing a change in mindset among certain individuals following the Lok Sabha polls.
“I don’t want to comment on it since it is too premature. Our party has been cleansed and whatever inductions we will do, will happen only after thorough checks.
“Only two of the eight newly-elected MPs are sitting Lok Sabha members. Sharad Pawar still has the capacity to bring in a new leadership and we will do this in the assembly polls as well,” Patil said.
Looking ahead, the NCP (SP) is set to convene an extended working committee meeting on June 9 in Mumbai, followed by a public address by Sharad Pawar in Ahmednagar on June 10 to commemorate the party’s foundation day.
In the broader political landscape, the BJP secured victory in 240 Lok Sabha seats, with the NDA comfortably positioned at 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, while the INDIA bloc, including the Congress, clinched 234 seats.
In a related development, NCP (SP) leader and newly elected Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said the INDIA bloc had decided to maintain a ”wait and watch” approach on government formation at the centre but mentioned that the alliance was prepared, should the opportunity arise.
Following her victory in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, defeating her sister-in-law, Sule addressed the media during her visit to the Pune city, emphasising the alliance’s hopeful stance.
When questioned about the possibility of the Opposition alliance forming the government, she reiterated their optimism based on the promising numbers.
Sule said the INDIA bloc had adopted a strategy of observing the political landscape closely due to the lack of a ”magic figure” of 272 in Lok Sabha that is required to prove majority.
Sule also said that her victory over her sister-in-law, NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar, by a significant margin of over 1.5 lakh votes highlighted the state’s rejection of ”ICE” (Income Tax, CBI, and Enforcement Directorate) tactics, emphasising the voters’ desire for governance within the constitutional framework.
In response to queries about her sister-in-law’s reaction to the election results, Sule expressed her continued respect and affection for Sunetra Pawar and emphasised that the election in Baramati was not a familial contest but a broader political battle between the NDA and INDIA alliances.
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