With civic polls just around the corner, the build-up for the elections is already at its peak. Around the speculations of MNS joining hands with MVA, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader on Monday said the Raj Thackeray-led party had finalised an alliance with them for local body polls in Nashik.
However, MNS leader Dinkar Patil, who made the announcement at a press conference, added that Thackeray will take the final decision in the matter, reported PTI.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi comprises Uddhav Thackeray`s Shiv Sena (UBT), the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and the Congress.
Patil, while asserting about the possible alliance, said that “The alliance has been formed for all polls henceforth. This decision has been taken to keep democracy alive. All parties have pointed to irregularities in the voters` list. Moreover, farmers are distressed due to crop losses caused by rain, as cited by news agency PTI.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader DL Karad further said that all parties have decided to contest the forthcoming elections together to reduce the influence of the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde`s Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
He further added, “We have come together against the neglect of the government on issues such as corruption, casteism, etc.,” as cited by news agency PTI.
Speaking at the press conference, local Congress leader and former corporator Rahul Dive asserted that “We have been given instructions by the seniors to take decisions at the local level,” as cited by news agency PTI.
While stating about the possible alliance, he added, “We have decided to join hands. However, we will brief our leader Balasaheb Thorat about the decision later in the day. We will follow the order of the party high command,” as cited by news agency PTI.
However, state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said his party has not taken any decision to align with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Nashik.
While Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have met several times at various events since July and have given statements hinting at an alliance between their parties, the Congress is reportedly opposed to including MNS in the MVA fold.
Incidentally, speaking in Akola on November 8, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar had also hinted at taking MNS along in the Opposition camp and had urged that the “Congress party should not take an extreme stance on the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and should think about it,” reported PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)