‘No Tussle for Maharashtra CM Post, Uddhav Too Agreed to Campaign with MVA as Face’: Nana Patole at CNN-News18 Town Hall – News18

There is no tussle over the chief minister’s chair within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, said state Congress chief Nana Patole on Friday at the CNN-News18 Town Hall. The priority, he said, is to “save Maharashtra”.

“In a Maha Vikas Aghadi meeting where Sharad Pawar was present, Uddhav Thackeray was present, and I was also present, it was collectively decided on the CM face issue that the MVA would be the face. And Uddhav Thackeray also agreed,” he said.

When told that the BJP is saying the NCP and Shiv Sena split on their own without outside meddling, Patole took a dig at Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who also spoke at the Town Hall. “He is my old friend. He is an expert in politics. Even his wife says so,” the Congress leader said.

He also alleged that the BJP-led government was looking to move businesses out of Mumbai to Gujarat, which is why there was so much emphasis on the bullet train project.

Asked about the recent MLC elections in the state where the ruling Mahayuti outshined the MVA which also saw some cross-voting, Patole said those who went against their own parties are being shown the door.

“The BJP is adept at all these underhanded tactics,” he said. “And that’s why the people of Maharashtra have decided to vote them out. I’m saying this confidently that the Maha Vikas Aghadi will form the next government with a majority.”

Patole also predicted that his alliance would win around 180 seats in the soon-to-be-held assembly polls.