 chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar during the gathering of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) workers and office-bearers ahead of state Assembly elections, in Mumbai, Friday, Aug. 16,)
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar during the gathering of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) workers and office-bearers ahead of state Assembly elections, in Mumbai.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: At at time when the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi is inching closer to a seat-sharing deal, both Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) seems to be keen for the post of chief minister.
The MVA comprises Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and a dozen smaller allies.
Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat on Thursday said that he was certain and “100 per cent sure” that the next chief minister would be from the Congress.
“I am 100 per cent confident the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be from the MVA and Congress,” Thorat said in what was the first public statement from the Congress seeking the chief minister’s post.
However, on Friday, Thackeray’s close aide reacted to what Thorat said. “Congress should not forget that it won more seats in the Lok Sabha elections because of Shiv Sena (UBT).
"If someone is thinking this is chota bhai, bada bhai, majla bhai…then they will see the real picture of Maharashtra in the future. Congress should study why they won those three extra seats in the Lok Sabha elections," he added.
However, it may be mentioned that Pawar, who is the architect of the MVA, had earlier on clarified that the post of the Chief Minister would be decided after the elections and based on numbers.
Over the few weeks, Thackeray’s party has been insisting on a Chief Ministerial face ahead of the police from whichever party it may be. However, he said that he was personally not keen on it.