MVA seat-sharing talks for 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be smooth, aim is to defeat BJP: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole
The Hindu
Seat sharing talks in the MVA will be smooth since the primary aim was to defeat the BJP, said Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on June 1, 2023
Seat sharing talks in the Maha Vikas Aghadi will be smooth since the primary aim was to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party, said Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Friday (June 1) ahead of a two-day review meeting of his party for the State's 48 Lok Sabha seats.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT) of Uddhav Thackeray, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress. It was in power in the State between 2019 and June 2020.
"The Congress is organisationally strong in all 48 Lok Sabha seats. We will discuss strategy to win maximum seats. Even though the Congress is reviewing all 48 seats, there will no problem in seat sharing talks," he told reporters.
"Defeating the BJP is our primary aim. After this two day meet (of the Congress), the future strategy will be discussed in the MVA meeting. Congress is the only alternative to the BJP nationally," Mr. Patole asserted.
The views of MVA allies like the Communists, Samajwadi Party, Peasants and Workers Party will be considered during seat sharing talks, the State Congress chief added.
Queried about the meeting between Gautam Adani and Sharad Pawar of ally NCP, Mr. Patole said his party did not have any personal animosity with the industrialist.
"The questions raised by Rahul Gandhi about the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adani must be answered. From where did ₹20,000 crore come into Adani companies? How is it that all companies are sold to Adani group?" he alleged.
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists