Pawar dismisses Shiv Sena (UBT)'s proposal to nominate Uddhav as the MVA's chief ministerial candidate ahead of elections

The remark is viewed as a setback to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s efforts to position Uddhav Thackeray as the chief ministerial candidate for the MVA coalition.

MUMBAI: On Saturday, Sharad Pawar, the NCP (SP) chief, dismissed the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s proposal to name a chief ministerial candidate for the MVA coalition. Pawar emphasized that the coalition's strength lies in its collective leadership rather than a single figurehead.

This position is seen as a blow to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s bid to make Uddhav Thackeray the chief ministerial candidate for the coalition. Pawar reiterated, "Our coalition is the face. We believe in collective leadership, not in highlighting one person," addressing the call for a single leader ahead of the state assembly elections.

When asked if Uddhav Thackeray could be considered the 'face' of the coalition, Pawar maintained, "As I said, our focus is on collective leadership."

Pawar's remarks come at a time when Shiv Sena (UBT) is pushing to elevate their party president to the forefront of the MVA leadership. This issue could spark internal friction within the coalition, as Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has been advocating for Thackeray's candidacy since last Thursday. Raut remains steadfast in his support, despite Pawar's public dismissal of the idea.

Responding to Pawar's statement, Raut acknowledged, "Sharad Pawar is correct. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi will secure a majority in the state assembly elections. However, having a clear leader, like Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections, could boost our prospects by 25 to 30 seats nationwide. People need to know who they're voting for. History shows they vote for known leaders like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Narendra Modi."

Raut asserted that there is no discord within the coalition about leadership and reiterated his belief in presenting a unified front for the chief minister position. "This is our perspective. The MVA consists of three parties, and we've seen the positive results of our unity in the Lok Sabha elections. We will continue to contest together," he said.

Confident in the coalition's strength, the Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson predicted that the MVA would secure at least 175 to 180 seats in the upcoming assembly elections.

Last Thursday, Raut championed Thackeray, highlighting his successful tenure as chief minister and his leadership during the Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Pawar suggested that the MVA parties should allocate seats to their smaller allies from their own quotas. "Parties like PWP, Left, and AAP supported us during the Lok Sabha elections and opposed the Modi government. Once seat sharing is finalized, each party should decide how many seats to share with their allies," Pawar advised.