Congress Pick For Baramati Bypoll Triggers Fresh Rift In MVA

Mumbai: Congress’s decision to field Akash More against Sunetra Pawar in the Baramati by-poll has exposed fresh cracks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday attacked the grand old party and said the Baramati result was a foregone conclusion. However, the Congress criticized Raut, saying that the statements made through party platforms should not create confusion within the alliance.

“Baramati is the stronghold of the Pawar family and everyone knows what the outcome will be,” Raut said on Monday. He also expressed his best wishes to NCP leader Sunetra Pawar and added that party chief Uddhav Thackeray will take the final decision on MVA support.

The Rajya Sabha MP slammed the Congress, accusing it of deciding to field its candidate without relying on allies.

Raut said, “This is not a decision of a single party. There are multiple parties in the alliance and such calls cannot be taken unilaterally. Some elections should be approached with mutual understanding.”

Sena (UBT) leader stated that party president Uddhav Thackeray will take the final decision on MVA support. “Today, Sunetra Pawar is only filing her nomination papers. There is still time for the elections to take place; Shiv Sena’s stand will be clear by then,” he said.

However, the Congress hit back, accusing Raut of undermining partners in the alliance. Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said statements made through party platforms should not create confusion within the alliance.

He quipped that Raut was mixing things up while fulfilling the dual roles of journalist and political spokesperson.

“He (Raut) has the misconception that everything he says is inherently right. In ‘coalition dharma’ he does not seem to accept that other parties may have different views and the need for prior consultation with them. Is it in the spirit of coalition politics to unilaterally announce decisions and only later call Congress leaders? If this had not happened, Maha Vikas Aghadi would now be holding power in the Mumbai and Chandrapur Municipal Corporations,” Sawant said.