Rift in Maharashtra Opposition? Congress, Uddhav Sena trade barbs over seat share

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised the Congress's slow decision-making process. Congress leader Nana Patole, however, said the final decisions on seat-sharing would be made by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

In Short

• MVA seat-sharing talks stalled due to Congress-Uddhav Sena disputes
• Congress refuses to give up east Vidarbha seats
• Sanjay Raut criticises Congress's slow decision-making process

The brewing tensions within Maharashtra’s Opposition alliance, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), are becoming more evident as seat-sharing discussions continue to stall ahead of the upcoming elections. The Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) are locked in a tussle over key constituencies, leading to a war of words between leaders of both parties.

At the heart of the dispute are the seats in eastern Vidarbha and Mumbai. The Congress has refused to cede any seats in east Vidarbha to Shiv Sena (UBT), citing the Sena’s reduced presence in the region following the party’s split. Meanwhile, the Sena (UBT) is demanding constituencies that Congress has historically failed to win, with both parties vying for two crucial seats in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Nana Patole acknowledged that disputes remain over 28 seats and assured that the matter would be resolved by the Congress high command.

SANJAY RAUT'S CRITICISM OF CONGRESS

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut added fuel to the fire on Friday by criticising the Congress’s slow decision-making process. According to Raut, while decisions on over 200 seats have been finalised, a few key constituencies are still under contention, with the Congress leadership in Maharashtra sending every decision to Delhi for approval.

"We don't have much time left, and I feel Congress leaders here are unable to take decisions. They keep sending lists to Delhi for approval, but that time has passed. We need decisions to be made quickly," Raut said.

He revealed that he had spoken to senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, and urged them to expedite the process.

Raut also stressed that despite the differences over seat-sharing, the parties must stay united to defeat the BJP. He referenced the BJP’s use of agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to target opposition leaders, describing them as “arms” of the ruling party.

NANA PATOLE HITS BACK AT RAUT

In response to Raut’s remarks, Congress state president Nana Patole dismissed the notion of a major rift within the alliance.

He acknowledged that there were disagreements over certain seats but emphasised that the final decisions would be made by the Congress leadership, namely Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

“Sanjay Raut’s leader is Uddhav Thackeray, and our leader is Rahul Gandhi. What happens in seat-sharing is something we inform our leadership about. I won’t comment much on Sanjay Raut’s statements,” said Patole, downplaying the feud.

With the polling date a little over a month away and with the seat-sharing negotiations yet to be finalised on all 288 constituencies, the MVA’s internal struggles threaten to undermine its electoral prospects as it braces for a tough fight against the BJP in Maharashtra.