X: @the_news_21
In a crucial meeting at Trident Hotel in Nariman Point on Thursday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress, formulated a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. The key focus of the meeting was the winnability of candidates, emphasizing that only those with a high likelihood of winning their respective constituencies would be fielded.
The meeting, attended by prominent leaders such as Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, MP Vinayak Raut, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad, Congress state president Nana Patole, former CM Ashok Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat, and Varsha Gaikwad, lasted from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad outlined the approach, stating, “We had discussions on all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and decided that only the party with the capacity to win the concerned seat would be allowed to contest the election from that particular constituency. We did not discuss how many seats a party would contest but discussed the winning capacity of the party.”
Emphasizing their commitment to restoring democracy, Awhad said, “At this stage, we will not disclose any further, but as per the election strategy, we will see who is being fielded by the opposing party, and the candidate capable of defeating the opposition face will get the seat.”
Sanjay Raut reinforced the unity within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, stating, “There are no differences among us. The Maha Vikas Aghadi will contest the Lok Sabha election unitedly and will support and treat the candidate we field as our own party’s candidate. We had a positive discussion today.”
Addressing the absence of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar at the meeting, Raut assured that both Ambedkar and Raju Shetti, the chief of Swabhimani Paksha, would be included in the next meeting on January 30. Raut also expressed confidence that Nitish Kumar would remain within the INDIA bloc.
On the other hand, Prakash Ambedkar expressed dissatisfaction at not being invited to the meeting, rejecting the invitation due to his belief that Nana Patole, who he considered lacking power in the MVA, had signed the letter. The developments in this meeting set the stage for the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s collaborative approach as they gear up for the Lok Sabha elections.
