Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar has said there was no need for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to announce a Chief Ministerial candidate ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election and the coalition would contest under a collective leadership.
The remarks come at a time when the Shiv Sena (UBT) has been pitching for Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Ministerial face of the opposition alliance.
Today’s Rate
Saturday 23 Nov. 2024
Pawar said the Chief Minister of the alliance would be based on which party wins the most seats in the elections — an idea that had previously not gone down well with the Shiv Sena (UBT).
“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.
The NCP supremo cited the situation after the Emergency, when the Janata Party announced the name of Morarji Desai as the Prime Minister after the Lok Sabha polls.
“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 a CM face now. We will sit together, and after getting the support of the people, we will give a stable government,” he said.
The tussle over the Chief Ministerial face has put the MVA, which also comprises the Congress, in a tricky situation. Previously, reports had said that the Shiv Sena (UBT) was pushing for Uddhav Thackeray to be declared the chief ministerial candidate. The Congress, meanwhile, had suggested making Uddhav the campaign chief of the coalition.
