Political Manoeuvrings Continue In Maharashtra, Pawar & Uddhav To Greet Rahul

Political permutations and combinations continue to take place in Maharashtra though their contexts are different and confusing for the common man. Within a couple of days of the BJP’s dramatic decision not to contest the Andheri (east) by-election against Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) election slated on October 20 will be fought by all major political parties in the state unitedly to ensure election of a BJP nominee as MCA president. The new MCA office-bearers and executive committee members will represent the Sena (U), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the BJP. Maharashtra Congress party president Nana Patole went to the extent of commenting that the BJP’s Andheri withdrawal looked as if it was a prelude to the MCA election. Even as dust is settling over the developments, NCP president Sharad Pawar and Uddhav have reportedly consented to join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo yatra in the state. Rahul will enter Maharashtra on November 7 at Nanded to begin his 383-km walkathon in the state. Pawar and Thackeray were invited to make their presence felt by former chief minister Ashok Chavan and other Congress leaders. Both have given positive signals. The place and day of Pawar and Uddhav participation will be decided soon. However, their consent is viewed as an encouraging sign for the revival of the erstwhile ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi.