During his recent visit to Kolhapur, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, made several statements making suggestions about how the upcoming Lok Sabha polls could be contested.
While addressing the gathering, Pawar said that NCP could contest the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls along with Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena and Congress, further adding that though there has been a split in the Shiv Sena, several ardent Shiv Sainiks have been working closely with Uddhav Thackeray by maintaining their loyalty and staying strong as supporters.
Challenging Eknath Shinde’s faction, he added that a few MLAs and MPs may have aligned them during the split, however, truth will come to the forefront when the polls are held, whereby the real views of the people will be highlighted.
In the previous elections held in 2019, BJP and the Shiv Sena (then head by Uddhav Thackeray) had faced concerns due to snapping political ties, eventually forcing the latter to form new associations, leading to the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with NCP and Congress. The newly formed party won the elections owing to the majority and ruled for several months until June 2022, when a revolt was staged by Eknath Shinde leading to the collapse of Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA.
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Quoting Sharad Pawar on the issue of alliance, PTI mentioned, “The understanding is that the Congress, NCP and Uddhav Thackeray should work together (for the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra polls). The Republican Party and some groups should be included. But we are having discussions. We take decisions jointly on many issues, so there should not be any problem in this.”
This is not the first time when the NCP chief has made such statements. Back in 2022, Pawar had quoted that the MVA should fight the elections keeping the alliances strong as ever.
Preparations had already begun for the mid-term polls when the Thackeray government predicted them to be held soon in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha polls will be held in May 2024 and Maharashtra Assembly elections are expected to be in October 2024.
On being asked about Rahul Gandhi’s work and the recent Bharad Jodo Yatra, Pawar said that he has been working hard, and could play a significant role in bringing the opposition parties together at the national level. Quoting Pawar regarding the same, Hindustan Times mentioned, “The people’s attitude towards Gandhi has changed. He will help in bringing a consensus among the opposition parties in the coming future.”
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Opposition parties across the state have been attempting to stage a protest against Gandhi by mocking him about the recently conducted yatra. Officials have gathered a few times at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led centre, and responding to these comments, Pawar added, “It (Bharat Jodo Yatra) has become an answer to the BJP that was involved in maligning his image. The attitude of the people towards him has changed. He also made it clear that he is ready to work hard because walking from Kanyakumari to Kashmir is not an easy task, but he is doing it. In my view, this will help in bringing consensus among the opposition parties.”
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