The embattled Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra on Saturday lost ally Samajwadi Party (SP), which decided to withdraw its support to the MVA after a controversial social media post by Milind Narvekar, a senior leader of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), commemorating the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
Narvekar’s post, shared on the 32nd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, had a photograph of the mosque along with a quote from Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray saying: “I am proud of those who did this.” The post also featured images of Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray, and Narvekar himself.
Reacting sharply to the post, SP state president Abu Asim Azmi declared the party’s decision to exit the MVA , stating that the SP could not associate with ideologies that contradict its secular principles.
“The Samajwadi Party cannot remain aligned with any form of communal ideology. This remark glorifying the demolition of the Babri Masjid is unacceptable, and we have decided to part ways with the MVA,” Azmi said in a statement. He emphasized that the SP is prepared to contest elections independently in Maharashtra if necessary.
SP leader Rais Shaikh echoed Azmi’s sentiments, highlighting that the foundation of the MVA alliance was built on secular values and a commitment to protecting the Constitution. “When such radical ideologies surface, it forces parties like ours to reconsider our position,” Shaikh stated.
The MVA, a coalition of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP), and the Congress, was formed to counter the BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra. However, the controversial remark seemed to be the last straw in an already fragile alliance.
Azmi expressed disappointment, questioning the ideological consistency of the Shiv Sena (UBT). “How are these actions any different from the BJP’s stance? We cannot align with such double standards,” he remarked.
The SP’s exit is a blow to the MVA, which has been grappling with diminishing electoral fortunes. In the last Assembly elections, the Congress secured 16 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 20, and NCP 10, reflecting a steep decline in their collective influence.
The fallout also coincided with the boycott of the Maharashtra Assembly oath-taking ceremony by MVA legislators, who alleged electoral manipulation through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). SP leaders, however, defied the boycott call and participated in the proceedings.
“We took the oath because we respect the democratic process. But we cannot support a coalition that contradicts the values it claims to uphold,” Azmi explained.
With only two MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly, the SP’s departure may not drastically alter the numerical strength of the MVA. It underscores deeper ideological rifts within the coalition. Political analysts believe this episode could push the MVA to reassess its strategy and internal dynamics. The electoral setback to the Shiv Sena (UBT) had been ascribed to it foregoing its ideological moorings which is closer to the BJP’s Hindutva.
Meanwhile, the BJP-led Mahayuti, which won a resounding 230 seats in the 288-member assembly, continues to solidify its position in the state.