AV News Desk, New Delhi: In the aftermath of a crushing defeat in the Maharashtra elections, cracks have started to appear within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) has pointed the finger at the Congress party for the poor performance, with Congress state president Nana Patole stepping down from his position in the wake of the electoral setback.

Congress’ Overconfidence Proved Fatal

Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve attributed the MVA’s disastrous performance in the Maharashtra elections to Congress’ “overconfidence.” Danve criticized the party for getting complacent after their strong efforts in the 2019 General Elections, which had resulted in significant gains for the opposition bloc. However, Danve noted, after the Lok Sabha elections, Congress’ overconfidence became apparent in every subsequent election, whether in Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, or Maharashtra.

“While Congress worked hard during the Lok Sabha elections, leading to a positive outcome for the opposition, they became overconfident after the results,” Danve remarked. He pointed out that the party’s lack of humility and understanding of the ground realities led to a lackluster campaign in Maharashtra, damaging the MVA’s chances.

Key Reasons for the Electoral Setback

Danve also outlined a few crucial factors that contributed to the MVA’s failure in the state elections:

1. Internal Disputes Over Seat Sharing: The MVA alliance was reportedly mired in prolonged discussions over seat-sharing, with the parties involved not finalizing an agreement until the last moment. According to Danve, these discussions should have been replaced with direct engagement with the electorate.
2. Failure to Allocate Seats to Shiv Sena (UBT): A major point of contention was Congress’ reluctance to cede certain seats to Shiv Sena (UBT). This inflexibility harmed the alliance, as Congress stuck to its stance despite pressure to accommodate its partners.
3. Overemphasis on the CM Oath Ceremony: According to Danve, Congress seemed more focused on the ceremonial aspects of power, such as the chief minister’s oath-taking ceremony, than on the actual work of campaigning and building rapport with the voters.

Uddhav Should Have Been the CM Face

Danve also asserted that the results could have been different if Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray had been presented as the Chief Ministerial candidate from the beginning. “If Uddhav Thackeray had been introduced as the CM face early on, the results would have been more favorable,” he said, suggesting that Thackeray’s leadership could have brought more confidence to the alliance.

With Congress’ internal turmoil and accusations from its alliance partners, the future of MVA in Maharashtra looks uncertain. The defeat has not only led to questions about Congress’ internal dynamics but also shaken the foundation of the once-promising coalition.