Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders to hold joint presser amid rift rumours

Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders to hold joint presser amid rift rumours

The leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will hold a joint press conference on Saturday amid reports of a rift in the alliance.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) supremo Sharad Pawar, and Congress state president Nana Patole will address the media as they prepare for legislative council polls in four seats later this month and the Legislative Assembly election later this year.

The MVA alliance demonstrated a remarkable performance in Maharashtra in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, winning 31 out of 48 seats. Congress achieved the highest tally with 13 seats, Shiv Sena secured nine, and the NCP (SP) garnered eight seats.

However, statements by Congress and Shiv Sena leaders after the election results apparently strained the alliance.

Maharashtra Congress state president Nana Patole claimed that Congress has emerged as the dominant force in the state and will contest 150 seats in the upcoming assembly polls.

Similarly, Uddhav Thackeray announced all the candidates for the four seats in the upcoming legislative council elections for the Teachers' and Graduates' constituencies without consulting MVA allies. This move did not sit well with the Congress state leadership. Reportedly, Nana Patole attempted to reach out to Thackeray, but received no response, according to sources.

However, the issue was resolved with the mediation of Sharad Pawar, sources said, adding that the joint press conference will be held on Saturday at 2 pm.Â

Two seats each for the council from the Graduates' constituency (Mumbai and Konkan) and the Teachers' constituency (Mumbai and Nashik) will go to polls on June 26. The results will be announced on July 1.