A riddle called MVA

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[google-translator]

Normally, an alliance of political parties is cemented when its constituents win elections. The three-party opposition coalition in Maharashtra could be an exception to this rule.

Last Friday, even as they won three out of five legislative council seats against the ruling BSS-BJP alliance, the three parties constituting the MVA were busy squabbling instead of celebrating. NCP leader Ajit Pawar remarked how Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had blind faith in his MLAs and turned a deaf ear to rumours about a rebellion in his party, which eventually led to its split. He also publicly advised the Congress to take back its rebel Satyajeet Tambe, who had contested as an independent and defeated the MVA candidate.

The media-savvy Congress state president Nana Patole riposted by asking why the NCP had failed to prevent a split in the Sena though it held the home department. The Sena (UBT) responded by asking Pawar to let bygones be bygones. The same day, the three parties could not decide on who would contest the byelections to two assembly constituencies even as the BJP declared its candidates.

This is not the first instance showing up the cracks in the MVA. Its three constituents have often worked at cross-purposes, for instance, during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra through Maharashtra, when top leaders of the NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT) did not participate despite Congress leaders requesting both Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray to join Gandhi in a rally if not the yatra.

The show of unity displayed by leaders of the three parties in a rally in Mumbai on December 17 did not last long. During the winter session of the state legislature that began in Nagpur two days later, the Shiv Sena (UBT) was surprised when its partners chose not to corner chief minister Eknath Shinde over a land allotment controversy on which the court had remarked negatively. In the legislative council elections, the three parties did not campaign together though they ended up winning three of the five seats.

The MVA’s next test will be the byelections to two assembly seats in Pune district on February 26. According to insiders, the coalition could win both the Chinchwad and Kasba Peth seats if it plans well, picks the right candidates and contests together. Winning even one seat could help the MVA score over the ruling alliance ahead of the civic polls, but even now, there doesn’t seem to be any gameplan for this. Spontaneity, not planning, seems to be the name of the game for the MVA.

Ambedkar and trust deficit

With two of the three MVA partners sceptical about Prakash Ambedkar, the entry of his Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) into the opposition coalition is now uncertain. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is keen to get the VBA on board and has already announced his party’s alliance with it though, according to MVA leaders, top NCP and Congress leaders have not responded favourably to his discussions with them on the issue. But though the two parties will not align with Ambedkar, they do not have a problem with Thackeray’s alliance with the VBA in future elections as long as Thackeray gives seats to Ambedkar’s party from his quota.

Thackeray is keen on attracting backward community votes to compensate for those he stands to lose after the split in the Sena. His priority is the coming civic polls, especially in Mumbai. In that context, the VBA could be of help to him. However, his partners are doubtful about Ambedkar’s intentions. NCP leaders have told Thackeray that the VBA chief will not be a trustworthy ally and even feel that his moves help the BJP in electoral battles. As such, they want to keep him at arm’s distance. Ambedkar, on the other hand, has publicly accused NCP chief Sharad Pawar of being close to the BJP. A section of leaders from both the NCP and Congress feels that the MVA should avoid Ambedkar and directly appeal to backward-class voters who are disillusioned with both their prominent leaders—Ambedkar as well as Ramdas Athawale who has joined hands with the BJP.

Old rivalry, new context

A day before he presented the civic budget, municipal commissioner I S Chahal sought advice from retired IAS officer and former Mumbai municipal commissioner D M Sukthankar on the issue. Sukthankar, who was widely appreciated for his contribution to state administration in his time, did advise Chahal. Interestingly, during its past rule in the BMC, the Shiv Sena had locked horns with Sukhtankar as well as another municipal commissioner, S S Tinaikar. During his tenure as mayor, Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi had even lamented that the mayor’s post was merely decorative and the real power was concentrated in the hands of the commissioner. Shiv Sena had often criticised both the officers on this.


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