'Congress to contest all polls separately' declares Maha head Nana Patole; BJP wonders why

Rupturing Maha Vikas Agahi alliance, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Saturday, me it clear that Congress will contest all local body and assembly elections separately going forward. dressing Congress workers in Amravati's Tivasa, he asked, 'Don't you want to make Nana Patole as CM in 2024?'. Asserting that Congress would be biggest party in 2024 in state, he said that no amount of sidelining will make Congress go.

Nana Patole: 'Congress will contest elections separately'

While speaking in Amravati, Patole said, "I am Congress chief of state. So, I will give point of view of my party. I don't know what he (Shar Pawar) said but Congress has me it very clear that we will be going solo in all local body elections and assembly polls. Don't you want to see Nana Patole me CM?"

Miffed with Pawar's recent praise for Sena, he said, "Congress is original party. We don't need anybody's certificate. Even if somebody (Pawar) is sidelining us, that doesn't mean Congress will be sidelined. Congress will only remain top party in Maharashtra by 2024." Furrmore, he slammed Modi govt for its COVID mismanagement, highlighting oxygen, drugs, and injection shortage. He also claimed that PM Modi did not have time to meet farmers who have been protesting for 6 months now.

BJP reacts to Patole

Surprised at Congress' departure from 3-way alliance, BJP MLA Ram Kam claimed that Patole's declaration of himself as a CM was a clear indication of his doubts on Uddhav Thackeray's proficiency. Claiming that Sena-NCP were sidelining Congress, he said sorrow was evident in Congress chief's statement. Patole has often me remarks contricting his own allies, be it own Sachin Vaze case, EVMs, Veer Savarkar etc. 

On Friday, dressing party cres on 22nd Foundation Day of NCP, Shar Pawar stated that Sena is a party that can be trusted. Predicting that MVA government will fulfill its full 5-year term, he said, "We have established a government having a different ideology. No one would have imagined that Sena and NCP can work toger. But we did it and fortunately, people have liked this experiment".

Sena & Congress-NCP

Sena has often clashed with its ideological polar opposite Congress since formation of Maha Vikas Aghi alliance over issues like Hindutva, CAA, NRC, Ram Janmabhoomi, Savarkar, COVID-19 etc, with NCP playing peacemaker. Several ministers from NCP and Congress have accused Uddhav Thackeray of depending more on bureaucrats than his alliance partners, alleging that y were being 'sidelined'. Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat, minister Ashok Chavan have openly stated that party has h no say in any of decisions being taken by Thackeray government. All three allies have maintained that alliance is safe, but BJP has often asserted that MVA govt will fall on its own.