MVA expands in Maharashtra, welcomes AAP, SP, Prakash Ambedkar’s VBA into its fold
More and more friendly partners are joining us, says Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut after meeting to induct new members, discuss seat sharing. Comes amid major setbacks for the larger INDIA bloc. Key Points
ThePrintTop Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders meet for May 1 rally
Senior MVA leaders like Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar and other leaders are meeting today to fine-tune the joint rally of the MVA that would be held on May 1. While the MVA has been using the rallies to project a united front, things are not as rosy for the MVA as they seem. Key Points
Economic TimesSharad Pawar ‘upset’ with MVA leaders, asks them to speak in one voice
NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday. Recently, MVA leaders have been at loggerheads over issues related to the Adani Group and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. Key Points
The Indian ExpressPanvel, Uran MLAs accuse MVA of sham protests over NAINA
The protest against the NAINA project in Panvel has taken a political turn, with BJP leaders accusing MVA leaders of misleading the villagers. The BJP plans to hold a public meeting to discuss the benefits of the project and expose vested interests. The NAINA project aims to develop infrastructure in 174 villages around the Navi Mumbai airport. The scheme proposes land pooling by villagers, with 60% going to CIDCO for development and 40% to affected villagers. Farmers' groups have staged protests demanding cancellation of the scheme. The protesting villagers recently began an indefinite fast. | Mumbai news Key Points
Hindustan TimesHow BJP managed to weaken MVA and downsize Shinde
Despite the vertical split in the Shiv Sena last year, the BJP was not able to decimate the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. In fact, the MVA alliance seemed to pose a strong opposition to their leadership, making the party unsure about winning 45 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 general elections. A weakened MVA will bolster BJP’s prospects in parts of Maharashtra that have been out of its reach. | Mumbai news Key Points
Hindustan Times
Sharad Pawar realised his mistake of joining MVA, scripted resignation drama to save NCP from destruction:
Maharashtra BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule has claimed that NCP President Sharad Pawar scripted his recent resignation drama to rescue the party from destruction after he realised his mistake of joining the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Bawankule said that Pawar was worried that the NCP might get destroyed between Congress and crisis-hit Shiv Sena. Bawankule added that Pawar withdrew his decision to resign since he wanted to gauge the mood in the party, and the iron fist of MVA was opening slowly. Key Points
Economic Times