The Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Maharashtra – comprised of secular parties like the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena has always been on a weak wicket. More than governing the state, the energies of the constituents are focussed on saving the Uddhav Thackeray-led government from falling, as the slightest gust of political winds begins shaking the very foundation of the unholy alliance. That there are major differences between the three parties is not unknown. The Congress and Shiv Sena particularly, have not shied away from washing their dirty laundry publicly.
A variety of issues are now contributing to the pulverisation of any and all trust and confidence reposed by any of the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA) constituents in each other. Even while the top leadership of the three parties might want to paint a rosy picture of their relations, their workers are making no secret of the fact that there is an all-pervasive sense of animosity among them. The same was proven when NCP Cabinet Minister Jitendra Awhad slammed the Shiv Sena on Sunday, stating the condition of roads in Thane district’s Kalyan was perhaps among the worst in Maharashtra.
The attack was mounted by the NCP minister in the presence of local Shiv Sena legislator. The incident proved how the NCP was going all-out in attacking the Shiv Sena, despite Uddhav Thackeray and his lackeys giving the thumbs up to Sharad Pawar’s candidature for the post of UPA Chairperson. This led to massive outrage in the Congress ranks, with senior leader Ashok Chavan going on to say that the Shiv Sena was not a part of the UPA, and as such, had no business commenting on who should be the chairperson and who should not.
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“The alliance we have with Shiv Sena is limited to Maharashtra, based on a common minimum programme. Shiv Sena is legally not a part of UPA. And a party which is not part of the UPA, must not comment on its leadership,” said Chavan.
And since then, the Congress and Shiv Sena have been hotly sparring on the proposition of the latter to rename Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar. State Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said the Sena’s stand was “hypocritical” and questioned the party over why it had not raised the issue in the last five years when it was part of the government in the state as well as the Centre, in alliance with the BJP.
Meanwhile, Republic World reported that several ministers from NCP and Congress have been accusing Uddhav Thackeray of depending more on bureaucrats than his alliance partners, alleging that they are being ‘sidelined’. Congress Chief Balasaheb Thorat and Minister Ashok Chavan have openly stated that the party has had no say in any of the decisions being taken by the Thackeray-government. This has made many believe that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government might not see the completion of two years in office.