No need for MVA to announce CM face: Sharad Pawar
National Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) does not need to name a chief ministerial candidate before the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The four-time former Maharashtra CM added that the coalition will contest the polls under a collective leadership. Notably, this comes amid reports that alliance partner Shiv Sena (UBT) has proposed Uddhav Thackeray as the MVA's CM face.
Why does this story matter?
The debate over the chief ministerial candidate has put the MVA—which includes the Congress—in a difficult position. The early friction in MVA seat-sharing talks has led to jabs from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Meanwhile, the BJP's own alliance faces seat-sharing issues—with CM Eknath Shinde's Sena faction and Ajit Pawar's NCP demanding more seats. The dates for the Maharashtra Assembly elections are yet to be announced. In 2019, the Sena-BJP alliance won 161 seats, while the Congress-led UPA secured 98.
Pawar says this is how CM will be selected
However, Pawar has said that the chief minister would come from the party winning the most seats—a suggestion Shiv Sena has previously rejected. "There is no hurdle anywhere by not announcing the CM's face. No need to think about it now. Who should lead should be decided according to the numbers. There is no need to make any arrangements before elections," Pawar said.
Pawar's support for his argument
To support his argument, the NCP chief said that after the Emergency, Morarji Desai was named Prime Minister following the Lok Sabha elections, not before. "After the Emergency, the name of Morarji Desai was announced. His name was not announced while asking for votes. So there is no need to demand CM face now. We will sit together, and after getting the support of the people, we will give a stable government," he said.
Thackeray expresses support for any CM candidate
Last month, during an MVA meeting, Thackeray expressed his willingness to back "any chief ministerial candidate" endorsed by the Congress and the NCP. He said, "I appeal to all leaders of the alliance...to announce their choice for the Chief Minister, and I will support them unconditionally." To recall, Thackeray had to step down as Maharashtra's CM in 2022 due to a rebellion within his party.
