From left to right: NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray during a protest against the Election Commission’s alleged inaction on voter roll registration in Mumbai on November 1, 2025. | Photo credit: ANI
Amid tension and tussle in Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi over the likelihood of changes in alliance combinations, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar refrained from commenting on the matter until he spoke to his local leaders.
Meanwhile, Uddhava Thackeray’s party leaders have expressed confidence that he will mediate between the Congress and the Sena to bring Raj Thackeray’s MNS on board.
“Local body elections are held at the ground level. Decisions are taken at the local level. I can’t say anything on the matter until I speak to my local leaders. I have called a meeting of them tomorrow (Saturday). We will discuss and then take a decision,” Mr Pawar told The Hindu on Friday evening (November 21, 2025).
He called for a meeting of all Bombay NCP SP leaders at YB Chavan Centre. The meeting was called three days after a Congress delegation met him to seek alliances for the upcoming local body elections, amid speculation of a rift within the MVA over the growing closeness of Thackeray’s cousins - Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray.
Raj Thackeray is not part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, nor has he made a public statement about his stance on the alliance. Uddhava Thackeray’s party is a part of MVA but wants to tie up with Raj Thackeray in the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, a senior UBT Shiv Sena leader told The Hindu that the party is in talks with the Congress and will speak to the high command if needed. But another party leader expressed confidence that Sharad Pawar will play a key role in bringing everyone together.
“We are confident that Pawar saaheb will mediate and we will make sure that we talk to the Congress leadership to convince them. We believe that if we want to defeat the BJP, they should all fight together in the coming elections,” the leader said on condition of anonymity.
The MNS was seen sharing the dais with MVA leaders a few weeks ago during a protest against alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls.
The MNS has stayed away from jumping into the current controversy. “We have nothing to do with who is talking to whom. It doesn’t matter to us what Sharad Pawar says, what Varsha Gaikwad says, what Varsha Gaikwad says to Sharad Pawar. Our party is guided by the decisions of Raj saaheb Thackeray. And he will call our party when he sees fit,” said MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande.
Published – 22 Nov 2025 08:03 IST
