Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said that the Lok Sabha victory of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra signals the beginning of a new phase, not the culmination, expressing confidence in the alliance’s prospects for the upcoming state assembly elections.
Speaking at a joint press conference in south Mumbai alongside NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, Thackeray highlighted the electorate’s rejection of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) perceived invincibility. “The Lok Sabha success for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is just the start,” remarked the former chief minister.
Congress leader Chavan echoed Thackeray’s sentiments, predicting an impending change in government following the Lok Sabha outcomes. Pawar took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attributing the favorable political climate for MVA to his governance.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Congress secured 13 seats, a substantial increase from its solitary victory in 2019, while Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) claimed nine and eight seats, respectively. The seat allocation accord among the allies gave Shiv Sena (UBT) the largest share of 21 seats, followed by Congress with 17 and NCP (SP) with 10.
In contrast, the ruling Mahayuti alliance managed only 17 seats, marking a significant decline for BJP, which dropped from 23 seats in 2019 to just nine. Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Eknath Shinde, secured seven seats, while NCP, under Ajit Pawar’s leadership, secured only one seat.
