Will Uddhav Thackeray Be MVA's Maharashtra CM Face? Here's What Sharad Pawar Has To Say

Here's how NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar reacted to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's suggestion to project Uddhav Thackeray as the opposition alliance MVA's chief ministerial candidate. 

File Photo of Udhhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar while addressing a press briefing.

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday rejected the idea of presenting a "single face" as the chief ministerial candidate, in response to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's suggestion to project Uddhav Thackeray as the opposition alliance MVA's chief ministerial candidate. 

"Our alliance is our collective face. One individual cannot become our chief minister's face. Collective leadership is our formula," Pawar told reporters in Kolhapur, as reported by the Indian Express. He emphasised that all three partners would make decisions collectively. 

Pawar expressed confidence in the MVA's prospects for the upcoming assembly elections and confirmed that allies like the Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would be included in the MVA. He called for the inclusion of all parties opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the MVA. 

"During the recent LS elections, the PWP, AAP, and Communist parties helped us. Though we are three partners in MVA, we should include all these parties. All those opposed to Modi should become part of MVA. Whatever the decision regarding the CM face, it will be taken after discussion and after taking everyone into confidence," Pawar told Indian Express. 

Earlier this week, Raut stirred political circles by proposing Uddhav Thackeray as the MVA's CM face. "Going to elections in Maharashtra without a CM face will be dangerous for MVA. Maharashtra has seen how Uddhav Thackeray handled the state, especially during the crucial Covid period. People voted for MVA due to his popularity. A faceless all not help our cause," Raut had said. 

Raut cited the I.N.D.I.A bloc's performance and the absence of a PM face tp emphasise his point. "If I.N.D.I.A bloc had projected Rahul Gandhi as the PM face, it would have got 25-30 more seats."

"No government or organisation can remain without a face. People must know who they are voting for. People voted for Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. They want to know the face. We don't have differences over who should be our CM face. We are determined to contest unitedly and will win 175 to 180 assembly seats," Raut said.

When asked if Thackeray was ready to the CM face, Raut responded, "You can pose that question to him (Uddhav)". He added that the matter was open to discussion. "We will take up the issue at the MVA meeting and arrive at a consensus. But I will continue to back Uddhav because of his popularity among the masses," he said.