Unlike the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Congress is not keen to take MNS chief Raj Thackeray on board as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi for the local body elections in the state.
A senior Maharashtra Congress leader said they have spoken with the high command regarding an alliance with the MNS for the local body elections in the state. He added that the decision has been left to the state Congress.
"We are happy that the senior Congress leaders and high command are with us and that the word of the state leadership will be considered while stitching any alliance with any party in state. Within the state Congress, there are very few who are in favour of an alliance with the MNS. Most of them feel that this move will alienate their traditional minority and north Indian voters," said the leader requesting anonymity.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal said the decision of an alliance with like-minded political parties will be taken at the local level. He said they have not received any proposal from the MNS to ally with them and therefore there is no point in speaking about it.
"The Congress party is prepared for the local body elections. The BJP-led Mahayuti has failed on all fronts therefore the Congress is the only credible option before the people. The Mahayuti had promised a farm loan waiver but when it was required, the government refused to do it. Farmers are in a very bad state. There is no fair rate for their crops. We are confident that in the upcoming local body elections, the people of Maharashtra will vote against them," said Sapkal.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is very keen to take Raj Thackeray on board as part of the MVA. "Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray held discussions earlier about cementing an alliance for the local body elections. After the negative response from the Congress in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray is likely to take up the issue with the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi," said a source requesting anonymity.
Earlier, when Raj Thackeray was asked about a possible alliance with the Congress, he said he had earlier shared the stage with the party to raise the issue of irregularities in the election process so it is not new for him.