Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, consisting of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), held its third consecutive day of meetings on Wednesday in Mumbai. Leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the Left Party also attended the discussions, further consolidating opposition unity against the BJP.
After the meeting, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi made it clear that defeating the BJP was their top priority. “We don’t care how many seats we get, just that the BJP should not come to power. We had asked for 12 seats but are willing to compromise to ensure the BJP’s removal,” Azmi said.
Azmi also took aim at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s recent outreach to the Muslim community, questioning its sincerity. “Ajit Pawar is with the BJP, a party that commits injustices and atrocities against Muslims. The Muslim community will never align with such hypocrisy. His sudden show of love for Muslims is simply because of the upcoming elections and his need for votes,” he remarked.
Ajit Pawar, who has been increasingly vocal in his role as NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister, recently announced that his party would reserve 10% of its assembly election seats for candidates from the minority community. This move is widely seen by opposition leaders as an attempt to capture the Muslim vote.
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole also weighed in, stating that the ongoing talks with smaller allies in the MVA would be concluded soon. Regarding Ajit Pawar’s announcement on minority candidates, Patole dismissed its impact, saying, “It will not benefit Ajit Pawar, as the Muslim community is already angry with the BJP.”
Patole further stated that Congress would launch the Missing Ladies campaign, highlighting the shocking statistic that 64,000 women have been reported missing in Maharashtra. On the recent meeting between industrialist Anant Ambani, Uddhav Thackeray, and CM Eknath Shinde, he commented, “This government works for industrialists, not the people. That’s why they meet industrialists, not the general public.”
Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction leader Jitendra Awhad also criticised Ajit Pawar, urging him to reflect on his alliance with the BJP, which he described as “anti-Muslim.”
As election season approaches, the opposition remains united in its criticism of Ajit Pawar’s moves, dismissing them as politically motivated attempts to sway the minority vote.
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