The Core Committee meeting of the Maharashtra Congress is underway in Mumbai. Discussions on LoP, the current political situation in the state and the Lok Sabha elections are likely to be held. This comes amid the split in the NCP between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.

 

On the issue of the leader of Opposition in the state, NCP leader (Sharad Pawar faction) Clyde Crasto said, "Congress has all the right to discuss the LoP. We have also made it very clear, our party president Sharad Pawar had also made it very clear that whoever has the majority has the right to claim or has the prerogative to choose the leader. So, if the Congress is even thinking of that, there is nothing wrong in it."


Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Sanjay Shirsat claimed that like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Sena, the Congress in Maharashtra might also split. “Many Congress MLAs want to leave the party. I've heard that 16-17 MLAs wish to leave, they are waiting to build a majority among themselves. They will take a decision soon, and Congress will also split,” news agency ANI quoted Shirsat as saying.


Earlier, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said the NCP split will only strengthen opposition unity and various parties will chalk out its further strategy at their meeting on July 17 and 18 in Bengaluru. He accused the BJP of sponsoring the split.ces.


"Actually, it is an opportunity for all of us and there is opposition unity. We know this type of tactics of the BJP very much. Now everybody is feeling that we have to be together to fight against these forces. It is going to strengthen opposition unity. On July 17 and 18, we are meeting in Bengaluru, where opposition parties will chalk out the programme," he told reporters at the party headquarters.


Venugopal said nothing will happen to the Maha-Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra and the split in the NCP is an opportunity for the MVA to strengthen further.


"In fact, it is an opportunity for the MVA to strengthen further. You know that the BJP washing machine has started its job again in Maharashtra. On June 29, the prime minister went to Maharashtra and abused the NCP as the most corrupt party and mentioned about the Rs 72,000 crore irrigation scam. Who has done it," he asked.