In a major blow to the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced its exit from the alliance, over a controversial remark by Uddhav Thackeray's close aide on the demolition of Babri mosque.
On the 32nd anniversary of the demolition, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Milind Narvekar posted a photo of the mosque, with a quote from Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray which read, "I am proud of those who did this".
Responding to the post, Maharashtra SP unit chief Abu Azmi said, "An advertisement was given by Shiv Sena (UBT) in a newspaper congratulating those who demolished Babri masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray) aide has also posted on X hailing the demolition of the mosque."
"We are quitting the MVA. I am speaking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Singh Yadav," Azmi told PTI. "Samajwadi Party can never remain with communal ideology, hence we separate ourselves from Maha Vikas Aghadi. If anyone in the MVA speaks such language, what is the difference between the BJP and them? Why should we stay with them?"
Though MVA parties skipped the oath-taking ceremony today alleging EVM tampering in the state polls, Abu Asim Azmi and party leader Rais Shaikh—the two SP MLAs in the assemblytook their oaths in an act of defiance.
"Milind Narvekar, who is from Uddhav Thackeray's party, posted a tweet, and we have only responded to him. The MVA was formed on two key principles: protecting the Constitution and upholding secular values. Shiv Sena has received votes in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha in the name of the MVA, with support from people of all religions and secular-minded individuals," said Rais Shaikh.
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, won 230 of the 288 seats. The MVA allies, Congress won 103, Shiv Sena (UBT) 20 and the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, secured 10.