Maharashtra | Why Congress is ceding political space to allies, triggering discontent in party

Though the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), may have sealed the seat-sharing deal for Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, resentment is brewing in the grand old party for giving up its claim on three key constituencies – Sangli, Bhiwandi and Mumbai South Central.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) unilaterally declared Chandrahar Patil and Anil Desai as its candidates for Sangli and Mumbai South Central constituencies, respectively, while the NCP (SP) announced the name of Suresh Mhatre as its candidate from Bhiwandi. State Congress leaders took up the matter with the party high command, but the other two allies were in no mood to relent, apparently aware of the fact that the Congress can’t intimidate them.

The Congress has been allocated only 17 seats out of 48 in the state. Shiv Sena (UBT) has already declared candidates for 21 seats, while NCP (SP) has been allocated the remaining 10 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) may also contest Mumbai North since the Congress is not keen on slugging it out against Union Minister Piyush Goyal in the BJP stronghold. This would leave the Congress with sole seat in Mumbai – a city where the party was founded in 1885.

Congress cornered

Maharashtra Congress unit pleaded with the central leadership to step in and hold talks with Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar but it seemed that the party chose to fall in line than taking a strong stand in a bid to avoid the repeat of West Bengal. A section of party leaders feel that Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) have a tacit deal to isolate the Congress in the alliance. “These two parties have created a perception that they are working to form a Congress-led government at the Centre and therefore we need them more,” a senior party leader was quoted as saying in media.

Congress insiders said there was a lot of discontent in the rank and file. Some of them hold Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole responsible for the situation, alleging that he did not negotiate well and failed to get the desired number of seats for the party. However, Patole minced no words in condemning Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). “It is unacceptable to declare candidates on seats unilaterally instead of holding deliberations and reaching a consensus among allies,” he said.

Political observers said these developments don’t augur well for the grand old party which should have ideally been the key challenger and alternative to the BJP, apart from being the driving force for the MVA, particularly in light of the fact that its other two allies – Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) – have suffered vertical split not so long ago. They said various factors have contributed to the pathetic state of affairs in the Congress, including weak state leadership, exodus of key leaders like Ashok Chavan and Milind Deora, belligerent allies handing out a raw deal to it and the party high command not paying heed to state leaders’ demand to intervene.

Slugging it out in Sangli

Meanwhile, voices of dissent have started emanating in the local Congress unit in Sangli within 24 hours of the MVA sealing the seat-sharing deal.

Appealing the coalition to reconsider the decision on Sangli, the local Congress leaders have argued that as the constituency has been their stronghold since Independence and they have a better understanding of “ground realities in the segment” than Sena (UBT). However, what has actually added to the woes of the MVA in Sangli is a meeting between former Union minister Pratik Patil and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar on Wednesday. It has fuelled speculation in the political circles that his brother Vishal Patil, who was seeking a Congress ticket, may jump ship. The development came on the same day when local Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, Vishal Patil and other local leaders held a press conference expressing displeasure with the MVA’s decision. Both Pratik and Vishal are grandsons of former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress stalwart Vasantdada Patil.

The Congress won the Lok Sabha elections for a record 16 times from the constituency. While Vasantdada Patil held the seat for a term, his grandson Pratik Patil won twice -- in 2004 and 2009 – before losing to BJP’s Sanjaykaka Patil in 2014. Patil retained the seat in 2019.

In the last Lok Sabha polls, Vishal Patil contested as a candidate of Swabhimani Paksha and secured over 3.44 lakh votes. The Congress leaders were optimistic that had he contested on the party ticket he would have snatched the seat from BJP as there is high anti-incumbency against sitting MP Sanjaykaka Patil.

However, Thackeray staked his claim on the seat and unilaterally announced the candidature of wrestler Chandrahar Patil, a two-time Maharashtra Kesari winner, which upset Congress leaders. While Sena (UBT) does not have MLAs in any of the six assembly segments under the constituency, Congress has two -- Vishwajeet Kadam and Vikramsinh Sawant.

MVA’s Mumbai muddle

On the other hand, there are reports of resentment in the Mumbai Congress too in the aftermath of the party giving up its claim on Mumbai South Central constituency.

Already there are whispers in the Congress circles that directions are being issued not to work for Anil Desai, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Mumbai South Central. As per media reports, Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad was keen on contesting from this seat.

Out of the two seats allocated to the Congress in Mumbai, the party lacks a strong candidate on either seat. The names of Gaikwad, former ministers Naseem Khan, Suresh Shetty, former Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap, and AIPC state secretary Mathew Anthony are doing rounds for Mumbai North Central seat.

For Mumbai North, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole had on Tuesday asked former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vinod Ghosalkar to contest on Congress’ symbol to which Ghosalkar has declined. The Sena leader had kicked off preparations to contest the Lok Sabha as it was widely speculated that the seat will go to Thackeray-led Sena.

There are also reports that the Congress wanted to exchange Mumbai North seat with Mumbai South Central with Shiv Sena (UBT). However, it seems unlikely as the Sena has already declared Anil Desai as its candidate from Mumbai South Central.