New Delhi: The ongoing standoff between the Congress party and the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) shows no signs of resolution, even with veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar stepping in as a mediator. This impasse comes against the backdrop of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiling its first list of 99 candidates, heightening pressure on the alliance.
Congress has also cancelled its Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting, which was intended to finalise candidate selections, urging state leaders to remain in Delhi for further negotiations. Meanwhile, leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) convened at Matoshree, Uddhav Thackeray’s residence, for urgent deliberations. Last week, a Congress committee had greenlit 62 candidates, but the escalating tensions have stalled further decisions.
As Shiv Sena (UBT) prepares for a crucial meeting, party MP Sanjay Raut hinted at potential resolutions. “Yesterday’s discussions extended over 10 hours, prompting today’s emergency meeting. We will gather at Matoshree to determine our next steps,” Raut said on Sunday.
According to The Indian Express report, Congress appears to be adopting a cautious approach, preferring to let the Uddhav Thackeray faction take the initiative. A Congress insider mentioned, “We need to finalise several decisions, which is why our leaders remain in Delhi.” However, frustrations are brewing within Congress, with some negotiators labelling Shiv Sena (UBT)’s demands as “unreasonable and difficult to accommodate.”
Sources indicate that a meeting on Saturday, lasting until 2 am, failed to produce any agreements between the two parties. Shiv Sena (UBT) continues to assert its claims, particularly in Vidarbha, where it is vying for seats traditionally held by Congress. A Congress leader remarked, “How can we concede seats like Warora, Ramtek, or Nagpur South? We’ve consistently won these, while they lack strong candidates.”
Despite initial claims of consensus on 260 out of Maharashtra’s 288 seats, 28 constituencies remain contentious. Shiv Sena (UBT) has threatened to withdraw from negotiations if Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole is involved. Raut expressed exasperation at the situation, emphasizing the need for Congress to streamline its strategy to secure electoral success.
Complicating matters further, with just 30 days until the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance grapples with significant internal discord. Ongoing negotiations have failed to bridge gaps on key seats, creating unease within the coalition. According to the Congress source quoted by ABP, recent meetings between Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, as well as discussions between Raut and Home Minister Amit Shah, have sparked concerns in Congress about Thackeray’s evolving stance.
