Ahead of Maharashtra assembly polls, the formidable opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is facing a severe challenge of unity after AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi making efforts to join the MVA coalition.Though both Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Congress are positive to induct his party with them, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), a major constituents, has been opposing any understanding with Owaisi-led party.
Already parties like Samajwadi Party, Community Party, Shetkari Kamgar Paksha and the Republican Organization have become part of MVA. However, UBT expressed its disapproval for inclusion of AIMIM in the coalition.
It may be recalled that Owaisi-led AIMIM has a significant presence in Maharashtra. It has won one Lok Sabha seat also. Moreover, it has submitted a written proposal to Congress and the NCP (SP) to form an alliance. But, so far no formal decision has been announced by those parties with regard to alliance with AIMIM.
Sources revealed that the proposal has neither been accepted nor rejected; however, the AIMIM could face a major setback if consensus among the Maha Vikas Aghadi parties is not reached regarding its inclusion.
Moreover, the AIMIM has submitted a list of 28 Assembly seats to the Maha Vikas Aghadi, from which it is seeking to contest the elections. The party stated that all of these 28 seats are in Muslim-dominated areas, or where Muslim voters play a decisive role. But, if an alliance is formed, the AIMIM is also prepared to leave some seats for the allies.
Already existing parties in the MVA found it difficult in sharing of seats, as each party sought lion share so as to claim Chief Minister’s post if the alliance won the elections. Already Congress is openly claiming that the next chief minister will be from them. UBT also insisted on keeping up the leadership of the alliance with them.
Sharad Pawar has clarified that the Chief Minister’s face will be decided only after the polls and which party secured more assembly seats will automatically choose the chief minister’s position. Uddhav Thackeray’s UBD is fearing that any alliance with AIMIM would cut into Hindutva image, benefiting Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and BJP alliance. Moreover, UBT is having great claims on several seats AIMIM proposes to contest.
