Thackeray lead Sena hints ending alliance with Congress over remarks on Savarkar
The party claimed on Friday that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena group may break with its ideologically opposed partner Congress as a result of their divergent stances on right-wing ideologue VD Savarkar.
The party claimed on Friday that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena group may break with its ideologically opposed partner Congress as a result of their divergent stances on right-wing ideologue VD Savarkar.
“Uddhav Thackeray may make a statement. In the morning, Sanjay Raut made a statement saying we may not continue in the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition). That’s a serious reaction from the party. What more do you want?” Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant told NDTV news.
When asked about the future of the alliance, he also underlined the group’s criticism of the BJP for collaborating with the contradictory Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Jammu and Kashmir.
After the 2019 Maharashtra elections, the Shiv Sena formed the MVA alliance with Congress and the NCP.
The action was taken in response to a split with long-time ally BJP over sharing the Chief Minister’s seat.
Since then, the party has fought allegations that it formed the unusual coalition to seize power in India’s richest state, which is home to Mumbai, the nation’s financial and entertainment hub, and keep the BJP out.
When party leader Eknath Shinde crossed over with the majority of MLAs to support the BJP and subsequently become Chief Minister, the arrangement was at the centre of a rebellion within the Shiv Sena earlier this year.
Last week, remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticising Vinayak Damodar Savarkar for pleading for mercy from the British when imprisoned brought the tensions between the right-wing Shiv Sena and its centre-left alliance to the forefront once more.
When compared to the icons of the Congress, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others, Gandhi said Savarkar was a coward.