Will Pawar And Thackeray Walk With Rahul Gandhi? NCP-Uddhav Sena To Join Bharat Jodo Yatra

Maharashtra, 26th October 2022: Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is about to enter Maharashtra on 7th November. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray are expected to attend this visit. The Congress allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have taken this decision intending to consolidate their position in the Lok Sabha elections and state politics.

When asked a question related to Rahul Gandhi’s participation in this yatra, Sharad Pawar said, “We believe that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is a program started by the Congress. It is an initiative to work to restore social harmony in society. This is a good step. Though we belong to different parties, some of us will join it wherever possible.”

A senior leader of the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena, on the condition of anonymity, said, “After the split within the Shiv Sena, we have fought a major battle. Out of our 55 MLAs, 40 have moved to the Eknath Shinde camp. Of the 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha, 12 joined the Shinde camp. So it is a challenge to get back our lost land.”

This journey of Congress will enter Maharashtra in the Nanded district on 7th November and will cover a distance of 382 km through Hingoli, Washim and Buldhana districts. During this, two rallies will also be held in the state.

Those attending the yatra include Baramati MP and Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule and Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya. Congress allies announced their decision to join the yatra after meeting senior Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan. Congress has requested Sharad Pawar to join the yatra. Both Congress leaders have also appealed to Uddhav Thackeray. “Bharat Jodo Yatra has a larger national agenda of restoring social and communal harmony in India,” Thorat said. Congress leaders have confirmed that Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray will meet Rahul Gandhi, but they are not sure whether the two will join the yatra.

Sharad Pawar is known for his practical politics. During the recent Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) elections, he supported a consensus candidate, who is close to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He has always tried to form an opposition group at the state and national levels. He was instrumental in bringing the opposition together for the “Save Constitution, Save Democracy” rally held in Delhi before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to counter the BJP. When three controversial agricultural laws were pushed through Parliament, Sharad Pawar took the lead in bringing all like-minded parties together to oppose the laws.

The political maneuvering of the BJP has divided the Shiv Sena. Now, the NCP is looking at consolidating the alliance as the only option to remain in Maharashtra politics. The Bharat Jodo Yatra can be an opportunity for the coalition to strengthen its ties. However, the NCP does not expect the alliance to run smoothly till 2024.

A former NCP minister said, “When it comes to power-sharing, experienced leaders always find a way out. The MVA government was a reality. It survived despite built-in conflicts. The seat-sharing exercise for BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), state assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be difficult.”

NCP insiders said the party set a target of 90 to 100 seats for the assembly elections – this means the party cannot settle for less than 100 seats, leaving around 180 seats for the Congress and the Thackeray-led Sena. A Congress leader said, “We will insist on equal sharing. But seat sharing will be acceptable to all based on some ground realities.”