MVA unity under scrutiny as 23 MLAs skip key Maharashtra Assembly strategy meeting: Report

Questions over the future of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have resurfaced after a significant number of legislators from the opposition alliance skipped a key strategy meeting ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly's monsoon session.

Of the alliance's 60 MLAs, 23 were absent from the meeting held on Wednesday(June 25) evening. Among those who did not attend were Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar and senior leader Jayant Patil, both reportedly unavailable due to personal commitments, NDTV reported.

MVA faces attendance setback

The absentees were not limited to the NCP camp. Senior Congress leaders Nana Patole and Vijay Wadettiwar were also missing from the gathering. Wadettiwar's office cited health concerns as the reason for his absence.

Also Read: What Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs’ defection means for Shinde, BJP and Maharashtra politics

However, Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut were present at the meeting, which was convened to coordinate the opposition's approach during the ongoing Assembly session.

The low turnout comes less than a week after a major setback for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction, with six MPs crossing over to the rival Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Uddhav questions alliance unity

Addressing concerns over the alliance's cohesion, Thackeray openly raised questions about the state of the opposition bloc.

"Are we truly together?" Thackeray asked.

Referring to the rebellion within his party, the former Chief Minister urged colleagues to concentrate on loyal members rather than those who had departed.

"Those who have left... let them go," he said.

Also Read: Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs join Eknath Shinde camp in major blow to Uddhav Thackeray

He also sought to project confidence about the alliance's future. "As the MVA we are a major force," he said, while calling for joint outreach efforts and coordinated public programmes,” he said.

The Sena (UBT) chief continued: "We say we are together... but are we truly together? Are we united as the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the House? Do we raise issues together?"

Focus shifts to alliance future

According to an NDTV report, quoting sources, the issue of the six rebel MPs did not figure in the discussions. Instead, leaders focused on legislative strategy for the monsoon session.

Formed in 2019 by the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP after a split between the Sena and the BJP, the MVA has weathered multiple political crises. Yet repeated defections and internal strains have continued to fuel doubts about its long-term stability, particularly after the Sena split in 2022 and the NCP split a year later.

The latest developments have once again triggered speculation about whether the opposition alliance can remain united in the face of growing political challenges.