New Delhi: Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) held its second meeting in Delhi to discuss strategies and finalise candidates for Maharashtra assembly elections. Top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, participated in the discussions.
The focus was on the distribution of seats among candidates, with particular emphasis on the arrangement with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
Rahul Gandhi expresses discontent over seat-sharing deal
During the meeting, sources revealed that Rahul Gandhi was unhappy with the decision to allocate certain seats in Vidarbha, Mumbai, and West Maharashtra to Shiv Sena UBT, led by Uddhav Thackeray. The situation escalated, prompting Gandhi to walk out of the meeting midway. Despite his exit, the CEC meeting continued for about an hour.
Rahul Gandhi reportedly raised objections to the criteria used to select candidates for the Maharashtra elections. According to sources, he was displeased that some senior Congress leaders in Maharashtra had proposed candidates who were either close friends or relatives.
Some leaders had pushed for tickets for their family members, which Gandhi felt could impact the selection of deserving candidates. Gandhi’s concerns suggest that he wishes to ensure that tickets are awarded fairly and not based on personal affiliations.
Assurance from Maharashtra Congress leaders
Following the CEC meeting, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole addressed the media. He confirmed that the party’s second list of candidates would be released that day, with a third list expected on Saturday. Patole expressed confidence that MVA coalition, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena UBT, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), would win a majority in Maharashtra. He also emphasised the party’s commitment to supporting OBC candidates on the seats allocated to Congress within the alliance.
Patole assured that Congress would perform better than it did in the Lok Sabha elections and highlighted the advantage he believes Congress will gain from increased campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Congress election in-charge backs alliance unity
Ramesh Chennithala, who oversees Congress’s election preparations for Maharashtra, dismissed any rumours of discord within the MVA. He asserted that the alliance remains strong and united in its effort to form the government in Maharashtra.
“There is no problem in Maha Vikas Aghadi, the problem is in Mahayuti. We are all together. We will fight this election unitedly and form the government in Maharashtra,” he said.
