In a significant political move, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi announced on Saturday that his party will withdraw from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Maharashtra’s Opposition alliance. This decision follows Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide, Milind Narvekar, allegedly praising the demolition of the Babri mosque, which was reflected in a controversial newspaper advertisement.
Azmi accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of adopting a “Hindutva agenda” post their defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. He alleged that Thackeray had instructed his party members to push Hindutva ideals aggressively, even after their electoral loss. Azmi pointed to a December 6 social media post by the Shiv Sena (UBT) supporting the demolition of the Babri mosque, calling it an unacceptable stance for the Samajwadi Party.
The Samajwadi Party, with just two MLAs in Maharashtra, had already been dissatisfied with the MVA’s seat-sharing arrangements during the Assembly elections. Azmi’s comments reflect growing tensions within the Opposition alliance, with the Samajwadi Party now distancing itself over ideological differences.
The trigger for the Samajwadi Party’s departure was a post made by Milind Narvekar, which displayed a photo of the Babri mosque demolition along with a quote from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray: “I am proud of those who did this.” The post also featured images of Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray.
Azmi criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) for using language that mirrored the BJP’s ideology and questioned why the Samajwadi Party should continue to align with such a party. The move has further complicated the political landscape in Maharashtra, especially as the Opposition looks to regroup after a series of setbacks.
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