Maharashtra: Sanjay Raut Invites Shinde Faction Leaders to Return to Shiv Sena (UBT) if They Regret Their Split Sanjay Raut, a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), has extended an invitation to members of the Shinde faction to rejoin the party if they realize their decision to leave in 2022 was a mistake. However, Raut clarified that not all leaders will be allowed to return. The statement comes amid ongoing tensions between the two factions of the Shiv Sena, which split in 2022 when a group led by Eknath Shinde broke away to form the Shiv Sena (UBT). Raut, who is a member of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and a member of parliament, stated during a press interaction in Mumbai that if any leader feels they made an error in leaving the party or were misled, they should return to the UBT faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. He accused the BJP of disrespecting its allies, suggesting that the party’s actions have contributed to the factional divide. This remark follows a statement by Abdul Sattar, a senior leader of the Shinde faction and former minister, who claimed that the BJP had weakened the Shiv Sena (UBT) and further damaged the Shinde faction’s influence in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Sattar argued that if allies begin to weaken the party, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance loses its legitimacy. He also hinted at the possibility of reuniting the two Shiv Sena factions. Raut countered by asserting that the original Shiv Sena, not the BJP, was the dominant political force in Maharashtra. He criticized the BJP for failing to accept this reality and blamed the party for causing the split. Raut also raised questions about the Election Commission’s role in matters related to the party’s name and symbols, expressing confidence that the Supreme Court would rule in favor of Uddhav Thackeray’s faction.#maharashtra #uddhav_thackeray #shiv_sena_ubit #eknath_shinde #shinde_faction
Maharashtra Congress Rift in MVA, Congress to Field Candidate Against Shiv Sena in Vidhan Parishad Election The Maharashtra Congress has announced it will field its own candidate against the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the upcoming Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad elections, marking a significant rift within the Mahayuti (MVA) alliance. The decision comes after the Shiv Sena UBT, led by Uddhav Thackeray, announced that former opposition leader Ambadas Danve would contest the election. This move has sparked tensions within the MVA, as Congress, which had previously pledged support to Thackeray, now plans to challenge his party in the polls. The Shiv Sena UBT confirmed that Danve, a senior party leader, will be their candidate for the Vidhan Parishad election, which is scheduled for May 12. This decision has led to internal discord within the MVA, as Congress, which had earlier committed to backing Thackerey, has now decided to run its own candidate. The Congress party, through its state committee chairman Harshvardhan Sapkal, stated it will field a candidate in the election, signaling a shift in its strategy. The election for the Vidhan Parishad involves nine seats, with the current MVA coalition holding 46 seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 20 seats, Congress 16, and the National Congress Party (NCP) 10. The final date for submitting nominations is April 30. The Congress party’s decision to contest the election has raised concerns about the stability of the MVA, which has been a key political alliance in Maharashtra. Sapkal, who had previously pledged support to Thackeray, has now expressed disappointment with the Shiv Sena’s choice of Danve as their candidate. He accused the party of undermining the alliance by not selecting Thackeray, who had been a central figure in the MVA.#uddhav_thackeray #shiv_sena_ubit #maharashtra_congress #ambadas_danve #harshvardhan_sapkal
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
Seven Candidates, Including Sharad Pawar, File Nominations for Rajya Sabha Seats in Maharashtra Seven candidates, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, submitted their nominations for Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra on Thursday. This move ensures that six candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance—comprising Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, BJP leader Vinod Tawde, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) nominee Pawar—will be elected unopposed. The political landscape in Maharashtra saw intense maneuvering as parties vied for influence ahead of the election. The Election Commission had announced the contest for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, with seven from Maharashtra. The Mahayuti alliance, with its numerical strength, is expected to secure six seats, while the MVA can claim one. Speculation about additional candidates from the ruling party was tempered by the BJP’s decision to field only four names, a gesture of respect for Pawar if he was nominated as the MVA candidate. The NCP also emphasized that the election would remain unopposed only if Pawar was the MVA nominee, prompting the opposition to rally behind him despite internal tensions. The MVA alliance, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), faced internal strife over the candidature. The Shiv Sena, the largest opposition party in Maharashtra with 20 MLAs, and the NCP, the smallest with 10 legislators, both sought to claim the seat. The winning threshold in Maharashtra is 36 votes, a number the Congress and Shiv Sena could have combined to meet. However, both parties hesitated to endorse Pawar, fearing it would weaken their positions.#maharashtra #rajya_sabha #sharad_pawar #shiv_sena_ubit #mahayuti_alliance
Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) resolves Rajya Sabha candidate dispute The MVA alliance in Maharashtra resolved its internal conflict on March 4, 2026, by officially selecting Sharad Pawar as its sole candidate for the Rajya Sabha election. This decision effectively removes opposition from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, paving the way for an unopposed contest in the state. The Congress central leadership endorsed Pawar’s candidacy, abandoning its own claim and rejecting Shiv Sena’s demand for a joint alignment. Sources close to the Congress revealed that the decision followed Shiv Sena (UBT)’s refusal to support a proposed collaboration with the Congress for a single candidate. A senior Congress leader confirmed that the MVA will now back Uddhav Thackeray for his second attempt at the Maharashtra Legislative Council election. The Rajya Sabha seat requires 36 votes, with Shiv Sena (UBT) holding the largest share of 20 MLAs, followed by Congress with 16 and the NCP (SP) with 10. The MVA constituents—Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP)—initially contested the Rajya Sabha candidature. Congress argued that its national party status necessitated a stronger presence in the upper house to bolster its Leader of the Opposition role. Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed its position as the largest opposition party in Maharashtra justified its bid, while the NCP (SP) emphasized Pawar’s stature as a guarantee for an unopposed victory. Leaders from both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) described the dispute as emotionally charged, with neither party willing to appear dismissive of Pawar’s aspirations. Pawar, who has been unwell, expressed a desire to enter the Rajya Sabha, and his daughter Supriya Sule voiced concerns about his health.#maharashtra #congress #sharad_pawar #maha_vikas_aghadi #shiv_sena_ubit
