New Delhi: Sharad Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), on Tuesday said that he will try to preserve coalition unity after Shiv Sena (UBT) announced its intention to go solo in the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra. Pawar added that he would organise a meeting with top leaders of the three parties in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition to see if we can take a different stand in the state (explore the possibility of contesting local body elections together),” he said.
Pawar said, “When we all sat together in the INDIA bloc, there was a thought of coming together when elections were due. However, there was never any discussion about working together at the state and local levels of elections. But now, I will try to maintain consistency in the coalition, at least on national issues. We will do it collectively.”
‘INDIA bloc is not related to the state’
The NCP (SP) leader said, “The INDIA bloc is not related to the state. But in the next 8-10 days, the leaders of Congress, Shiv Sena, and our party will sit together and make a decision.” He underlined, “There was never any discussion about contesting local elections together within the INDIA alliance. The discussions were taking place at the national level. There was no discussion regarding municipal or city corporation elections. However, our feeling is that we should remain united and fight together.”
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His comments come after Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut announced that his party would contest the local body elections from Mumbai to Nagpur independently. Pawar’s remarks reflect his sentiment that the elections should be fought together.
“The dialogue between the INDIA alliance and Maha Vikas Aghadi has not ended. The conversation is ongoing, and we are planning to hold a meeting in the next 8-10 days,” said Pawar. He further added, “Uddhav Thackeray has clarified his position on fighting elections independently. He has clearly stated that with the upcoming municipal elections in Baramati and Indapur, we have not considered an alliance there, and we will not do so.” Pawar also remarked, “Arvind Kejriwal has his base in Delhi. However, if he had taken us into confidence, we could have done something together, but that didn’t happen. Let’s leave it.”
