Maharashtra Congress Accuses Shiv Sena (UBT) of Breaching Alliance Norms in Chandrapur
In a sharp political rebuke, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of violating alliance protocols during the recent mayoral contest in Chandrapur. Speaking to reporters in Buldhana, Sapkal highlighted what he termed a stark contrast between the conduct of the two parties, pointing to Congress' decision in Parbhani as a model of alliance loyalty.
Contrasting Political Moves in Chandrapur and Parbhani
Sapkal detailed the events in Chandrapur, where the BJP candidate secured the mayor's position despite lacking a majority, a victory he attributed to support from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). "In Parbhani, Sena (UBT) secured the mayor's post while Congress secured the deputy mayor's post. To keep BJP out of power, all 12 Congress corporators voted for Shiv Sena (UBT)," he stated, emphasizing Congress' commitment to the alliance.
Drawing a direct comparison, Sapkal noted that in Chandrapur, Shiv Sena (UBT), with its 8 corporators, chose to back the BJP instead. "Sena's (UBT) stand in Chandrapur was politically wrong. Supporting such a move at the party level and attempting to malign the Congress amounts to a thief crying foul," he asserted, criticizing the party's actions as a breach of trust.
Congress' Response and Alliance Discussions
Sapkal revealed that Congress leaders had engaged in discussions with Shiv Sena (UBT) representative Sanjay Raut and maintained communication with the Thackeray-led party. However, he expressed disappointment over the outcome. "The statements made by Raut and members of his party were inappropriate and not in keeping with alliance norms," Sapkal remarked, indicating a breakdown in cooperative spirit.
He further cited the example of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), led by Prakash Ambedkar, which took disciplinary action against two corporators who remained absent during voting, expelling them and penalizing the city president. In contrast, Sapkal pointed out that Shiv Sena (UBT) defended its stance without any such accountability. "This is something Congress will not tolerate," he added firmly.
Upholding Alliance Dharma in Parbhani
Reflecting on the Parbhani scenario, Sapkal mentioned that there was a proposal for a Congress mayor, but the party chose to step aside to uphold alliance principles. "We spurned power to uphold alliance dharma and stood by Sena (UBT). The developments in Chandrapur and Parbhani made it clear that Sena (UBT) seeks Congress votes within the alliance, but does not reciprocate," he concluded, underscoring the perceived one-sided nature of the partnership.
This incident has sparked tensions within the opposition alliance in Maharashtra, raising questions about future cooperation and trust between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) factions.
