In an indirect dig at the Congress, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut stated on Sunday that if somebody wanted to contest elections alone, "let them do it". "Shiv Sena has fought political battles on its own. There may be alliances in polls, but battles are fought on one's own. Be it an issue related to the prestige of Maharashtra or the existence of Shiv Sena, if we have to fight [for it] we will fight," Raut said, ANI reported.
There are growing indications of fresh strain on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, which was formed when the Sena and Congress, adversaries for decades, formed government along with the NCP after the Uddhav Thackeray-led party fell out with the BJP in 2019.
The first salvo was fired by Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, who announced that his party would fight the next assembly elections on its own and install a chief minister of the Congress. He has also said that if the party allows, he himself would be the next chief ministerial face. Recently Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap had said he was ready to contest the next year's Mumbai civic polls without joining hands with the Sena.
On Saturday, in a veiled swipe at local Congress leaders, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had said that people would "beat with footwear" those who only talk about contesting elections alone without offering solutions to people's problems. "All political parties should keep ambitions aside and focus on economy and health," he said, speaking on the occasion of the Shiv Sena's 55th foundation day. Without naming the ally Congress, Thackeray said, "If we do not offer solutions to people's problems but only talked about going it alone in politics, people will beat us with footwear. They will not listen to our party-centric, ambitious talk of contesting elections alone."
"If a party wishes to say that it wants to contest elections without joining hands with others, it should offer confidence and courage to people. Otherwise people will ask what plans the party has to provide them livelihood, jobs," Thackeray further said. "Sena is not desperate for power. We will not unnecessarily carry others' burden. We will always take a firm stand to protect the interests of common man. Even we can give a call for contesting elections without alliance," he said.
In an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena also said that since all the major political parties have started talking about going solo, the Sena and the NCP will have to contest the next polls together in the interest of Maharashtra. "If the main political parties are speaking of going alone , the other two parties—Shiv Sena and NCP—will have to join hands in the interest of the state. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have already spoken about it," the ruling party said.
-Inputs from PTI
