Mumbai Congress chief called Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar’s Sharadchandra Pawar a “natural ally.” File.
| Photo Credit: ANI
As the local body elections approach, the internal dynamics within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are heating up as partners struggle over alliance arrangements. In the latest, Mumbai Congress Chief Varsha Gaikwad and other leaders met NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday (November 19, 2025) to discuss an alliance with its “natural ally”.
Highlighting that Congress wants to contest with “like-minded parties”, Ms. Gaikwad said, “We cannot unite with someone who takes the law into their hands. Besides, Mr. Pawar is a natural ally of the Congress and met him to discuss the upcoming polls and potential alliance with us.”
This comes after Congress expressed its wish to run elections independently in the Municipal Corporation elections in Mumbai, and Shiv Sena (UBT) advised it to introspect on its decision.
Ms. Gaikwad and other party leaders, Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh, and Jyoti Gaikwad, met Mr. Pawar and his daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule. The meeting is also seen as Congress looking for a new equation, as its ally Shiv Sena (UBT) has expressed its will to contest the election with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and the grand old party is hesitant about MNS’ entry in the MVA.
“For BMC elections, we want to fight along with partners who have the same thought process. However, everything is still under discussion, and soon I will let you know,” Ms. Gaikwad added.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expected to be held in January 2026 in all 227 wards. Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala also expressed to contest the BMC polls independently.
Ms. Gaikwad also asserted that there has been no discussion on the alliance with MNS, saying, “We welcome if Thackeray cousins come together, but no discussion has been held with us, and we are not in favour of joining those who take the law into their hands.”
“In these elections, we will raise issues concerning pollution, healthcare, education, corruption, traffic congestion, and others,” she added.
Congress MLA Amin Patel supported the decision of fighting solo, saying the party came to the decision after three-month-long discussions with the local cadre.
Published – November 19, 2025 10:05 pm IST
