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Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP-SCP) Pune city president, Prashant Jagtap on Sunday made it clear that his party is ready to contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections solo if their alliance partner, Shiv Sena (UBT), decides to go alone.
This comes after Sanjay Raut hinted that Shiv Sena (UBT) might contest the elections solo, as party workers are demanding it. However, Jagtap emphasized that while NCP (SCP) prefers to contest in alliance, they are capable of going solo if needed. He also stressed that their primary goal is to stop the BJP from spreading its influence in Maharashtra and the country. "If Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sanjay Raut are talking differently, we are also ready to contest (the upcoming local body elections) solo or with Congress," Jagtap told ANI. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) alliance has been a crucial part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, which has been opposing the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. The 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Election saw a landslide victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti, with 235 seats won. The Shiv Sena and NCP secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The results marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. "In the past 10 months, we have contested the assembly and Lok Sabha elections in alliance. The struggle is not to make a comeback or for political gains, but our focus is to stop the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) from spreading terror across Maharashtra and the country. Despite this, if Shiv Sena (UBT) is thinking differently (about contesting local body polls solo) it would perhaps benefit the BJP in the upcoming polls. We want to contest in alliance. However, if Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sanjay Raut are talking differently, we are also ready and capable to contest solo or with Congress," Jagtap told ANI. Meanwhile, Maharashtra NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil on Saturday said that he would ask him why he had made such a decision. "I will ask him why he made such a decision. I have been told that he said that they (Shiv Sena - UBT) may fight the election alone, not that they will fight the election alone," Patil told reporters. The NCP (SCP) leader also expressed concern over the delay in the allocation of portfolios in the Maharashtra Cabinet and hopes to happen soon. He also questioned the Mahayuti government regarding the reason for the delay despite having an adequate majority. (ANI)
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