Uddhav’s Demand To Name Next CM Choice Ignored By Congress & Sharad Pawar

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray’s call to the two other Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners to declare their joint candidate for the next chief minister of Maharashtra has gone unanswered by the Congress and the NCP(SP). Looking at veteran leader Sharad Pawar and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan while addressing the first MVA campaign meet for the coming assembly election in Mumbai on Friday (Aug 16), Uddhav said, “Declare any name here and now and I shall support it. Let it be Uddhav or anyone else.” The open indication has been interpreted as a feeler to the Congress and the NCP(SP) to project Uddhav as the prospective chief minister. State Congress president Nana Patole responded, “This decision will be taken by the top leaders.” Pawar did not touch upon the issue at all.  Shiv Sena (UBT) has never cloaked its wish to see Uddhav back in the saddle to run the state. However, Pawar and Congress leaders have adopted a cautious approach by maintaining that a decision in this regard will be taken at an appropriate time. Already, a letter purportedly signed by Uddhav’s right hand Milind Narvekar has gone viral. “Uddhav should campaign for the MVA only after he is declared as the next CM choice,” the letter says. Thus, internecine tussle within MVA has started rearing its head.