Maharashtra: MVA netas say 'consensus man' Uddhav Thackeray is now alliance leader

MUMBAI: A week after the Maha Vikas Aghadi's rally at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar against the alleged failure of the Shinde-Fadnavis government, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has emerged as the most powerful leader of the three-party alliance.
Senior UBT leaders observed that Thackeray has emerged as a consensus leader for the MVA, though the Congress is yet to accept him as leader of the Aghadi.
Former chief minister Ashok Chavan said that it is immaterial who the leader is, but the top priority is to keep the MVA intact and ensure that the BJP is defeated in the ensuing Lok Sabha and state assembly polls. "All of us had worked under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. He is an able administrator and has the capacity to take all together. He has the qualities of a consensus-forming political leader; he has been able to keep the MVA intact. However, the issue before us is to defeat the BJP in the coming polls," Chavan told TOI.
While MPCC president Nana Patole was conspicuous by his absence at the rally in Sambhajinagar, leader of opposition Ajit Pawar of the NCP and Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat showered praise on Thackeray for his "leadership qualities." They said Thackeray had the power to lead all factions of MVA. Patole said he was unwell and unable to travel. However, the day after the rally, Patole travelled to Surat to join Rahul Gandhi.
Sena UBT leader Anil Parab endorsed the views expressed by Ashok Chavan, Ajit Pawar and Balasaheb Thorat. "Thackeray's biggest achievement is he was able to keep the MVA alive even after his government was dislodged by the Shinde-Fadnavis duo," Parab said.
A Congress leader said there was no question of accepting the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray as MVA is governed by two senior leaders from each party: Thackeray and Subhash Desai from the UBT faction, Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil from NCP and Nana Patole and Thorat from Congress. "Key decisions of MVA are taken at its coordination committee meeting. Despite such a situation, there is say for Thackeray in the decision-making process and whatever he says is accepted by all MVA constituents," he said.
The MVA was formed after the 2019 assembly polls. NCP president Sharad Pawar had taken the lead in its formation, and it was felt that only if Thackeray was made the CM would the MVA government have stability.
After Uddhav Thackeray's government was ousted, several observers thought it was the end of Thackeray's political career. However, Thackeray's shakha network is intact, though a section of his supporters has joined the rival camp. There was huge attendance for Thackeray's rallies in Khed and Nandurbar.