As speculation mounts regarding a potential political alliance between the Thackeray cousins, the Maharashtra Congress has voiced its clear hesitation to partner with any group promoting a polarization agenda.
Harshwardhan Sapkal, the State Congress chief, reaffirmed the party’s core principles to The Hindu, stating that ‘Constitutional values and secularism are non-negotiable.’ Addressing questions about a possible alliance with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), he asserted, ‘We are strictly against polarization. Any party wishing to join our alliance must align with these Constitutional values.’ Sapkal clarified that, as of now, no formal proposal has been made for the MNS to join.
Sapkal underscored that the decision on a partnership with the MNS extends beyond the Congress and even the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—the state-level coalition comprising Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). He firmly stated, ‘Should any new alliance partner be considered for Maharashtra’s political landscape, all constituent parties of the INDIA bloc must convene and collectively make that determination.’
Growing Camaraderie Between Thackeray Cousins
These comments from Mr. Sapkal become particularly relevant given the increasing closeness between Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin, Raj Thackeray. Their interactions are being closely watched as Maharashtra anticipates upcoming local body elections.
Recently, Raj Thackeray was seen alongside Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders during a meeting with Election Commission officials concerning alleged electoral roll irregularities. Just two days later, the Thackeray cousins reunited for a Diwali celebration, with both families present. This burgeoning camaraderie has fueled speculation about a potential alliance between their respective parties for the forthcoming local body polls.
No Formal Alliance Proposal Yet
When questioned about the Congress’s openness to a new alliance partner should the Thackeray cousins unite for the elections, Mr. Sapkal clarified: ‘The decision rests not solely with the Congress, but with all INDIA bloc partners at the national level. The Maha Vikas Aghadi, as a distinct entity, no longer exists; we are now operating as the INDIA bloc.’ He emphasized, ‘There has been no discussion or formal proposal regarding this so far. While we welcome their personal familial gatherings, in line with Congress’s message of ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ (shop of love), politically, no such alliance proposal is on the table.’
The Maharashtra Congress chief highlighted that even with differing ideologies, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress previously united under a Common Minimum Programme, demonstrating a precedent for ideological compromise within alliances.
Zero Tolerance for Polarization
Setting clear terms for any potential alliance, Mr. Sapkal reiterated, ‘Our absolute priority is Constitutional values. We fundamentally oppose the BJP’s core ideology. Any party seeking negotiations must first unequivocally align with these constitutional principles.’ He firmly added, ‘Constitutional values are non-negotiable. We stand resolutely against any form of voter polarization based on religion, caste, gender, geography, region, or language. Such divisive politics is intolerable and goes against our fundamental commitment to secularism.’
Internally, several Congress leaders have already voiced concerns about partnering with Mr. Raj Thackeray, citing his strong anti-migrant views and statements often perceived as anti-Muslim. With elections looming in Bihar—a state from which many of Mumbai’s migrant workers originate—both the Maharashtra Congress cadres and leadership are uneasy about the prospect of including the MNS in an alliance.
Decentralized Local Alliances
Furthermore, the Congress has empowered its district-level leadership to forge local alliances for the upcoming local body polls. Mr. Sapkal explained, ‘The dynamics for local elections are unique. The party reached a consensus seven months ago that decisions regarding local body elections should not solely be made in Mumbai. We advocate for decentralized decision-making, allowing district units to lead.’ He confirmed, ‘This long-standing decision has been communicated to our alliance partners. We’ve engaged with party office-bearers in each district, and alliances will be formed at the district level, not the state level. Both pre-election and post-election [alliances] options remain open.’
Sapkal also mentioned that Mumbai’s local party units have expressed a desire to contest the local body elections independently. ‘We must respect our cadres’ wishes to fight alone,’ he stated, acknowledging that ‘alliance has become a political necessity in Maharashtra. It’s a complex situation, like the chicken-and-egg dilemma, especially with six active players in the state’s political arena.’