Congress in Maharashtra Faces Existential Crisis Amid Repeated Alliance Struggles The Indian National Congress (INC) in Maharashtra has found itself in a precarious position as its reliance on alliance politics has sparked growing discontent among party workers and leaders. The party’s repeated compromises with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), particularly within the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, have eroded its traditional base and raised questions about its long-term viability in the state. Analysts and party insiders warn that this pattern of alliance-driven politics risks further marginalizing the Congress, which has already seen its influence wane in recent years. The MVA coalition, formed in 2019, initially aimed to counter the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra. However, the Congress’s role within the alliance has increasingly resembled that of a junior partner, with its leaders forced to cede key constituencies and electoral strategies to its allies. This has led to frustration among grassroots workers, who feel their party is losing its identity and autonomy. For instance, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress secured the highest vote share in the state but was compelled to hand over critical seats like Sangli and Mumbai to its allies, despite having strong local support. Recent events have exacerbated these tensions. During the Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress was pressured to support Shiv Sena’s candidate for a seat, even though the party had a viable contender. Similarly, in the Vidhan Parishad elections, the Congress was forced to back Shiv Sena’s leader, Uddhav Thackeray, despite internal dissent.#indian_national_congress #bharatiya_janata_party #nationalist_congress_party #mahavikas_aghadi #shiv_sena_ubs
Congress vs Shiv Sena (UBT): Rift Deepens Over Crutches Remark in Maharashtra Politics Maharashtra politics has seen a sharp escalation in tensions between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) over a controversial editorial published in the latter’s newspaper. The dispute centers on a remark criticizing the Congress for allegedly treating regional parties like "Baisakhi" (a Punjabi harvest festival), which the Shiv Sena editorial claimed implied the Congress uses regional groups as tools rather than partners. This remark has sparked outrage among Congress leaders, who accuse the Shiv Sena of undermining the coalition’s unity and making unilateral decisions that harm the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. The conflict has intensified after the recent Rajya Sabha elections, where Sharad Pawar’s uncontested victory highlighted existing divisions within the MVA. The Shiv Sena editorial accused the Congress of ignoring the views of regional parties, arguing that such neglect weakens the alliance’s strength. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant responded sharply, calling the editorial an attack on the coalition’s principles. He criticized the Shiv Sena’s editorial board and senior leader Sanjay Raut for failing to distinguish between their roles as journalists and politicians. Sawant emphasized that the MVA requires mutual consultation and compromise, warning that unilateral decisions have already caused setbacks in key constituencies like Mumbai and Chandrapur. Shiv Sena, in turn, defended its stance, asserting that forming strong alliances with regional parties is essential for the Congress to gain power at the center. The party argued that including regional groups is not a weakness but a sign of political maturity.#maharashtra #congress #shiv_sena_ubit #sanjay_raut #mahavikas_aghadi
