Crisis deepens for Maharashtra Congress, Sena mouthpiece blames Nana Patole for alliance govt fall

In editorial Thursday, Saamana, brought out by Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT), said Patole’s resignation as assembly Speaker in 2021 was hasty & a main reason for MVA govt's fall.

File photo of Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole | Twitter: @NANAPATOLE

Mumbai: Amid the ongoing crisis in Maharashtra Congress because of the fallout between unit chief Nana Patole and senior leader Balasaheb Thorat, now alliance partner in the state, Shiv Sena (UBT), has spoken out against Patole, blaming the state Congress president for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s fall in 2022.

In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana Thursday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) said that Patole’s hasty decision of stepping down as assembly Speaker in 2021 was one of the main reasons for the alliance’s subsequent fall.  “There could be many reasons behind the fall or pulling down of the MVA government, but the immature and hasty resignation of assembly Speaker Nana Patole was the main reason. Patole’s decision was not wise and the series of troubles began since then… The Speaker’s position is important in an alliance government. Had Patole been the Speaker, many further obstacles could have been solved and turncoats could have been disqualified,” it read.

The editorial pointed out that after Patole’s resignation, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari did not allow the conduct of election to the Speaker’s post, thus helping the “superpowers” in Delhi and the rebels who took “boxes” (of cash) to topple the government.

“The decision to resign from the Speaker’s post was imprudent and immature. Patole later became state Congress president. But we will have to agree that the smooth running of Maharashtra was permanently jeopardised because of his decision,” the editorial said.

Praise for Thorat

The editorial also praised Balasaheb Thorat, who recently resigned from the Congress legislative party citing differences with Patole.

“Thorat is a senior and important Congress leader in Maharashtra. He is a loyalist. His calm and patient leadership has kept the Congress flag flying high in many troubled weathers (and) his rebellion has put the remaining Congress branches in danger,” it said, adding that at a time when Rahul Gandhi has successfully challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is important the leaders in his party should start working unitedly.

Earlier this week, Balasaheb Thorat resigned as Congress Legislative Party leader allegedly over Patole’s handling of the Satyajeet Tambe episode. He wrote to the party high command, reportedly saying that “it is difficult to work with Nana Patole.”

Even in the past, the Sena has used Saamana to needle the Congress.  Back in 2020, an editorial openly said that Sharad Pawar should lead the Opposition at the centre. It also had called the Congress the ‘weak link’ in the three-party alliance in the state.

Congress responds

Reacting sharply to the criticism, state Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said, “Nana Patole did not make a hasty decision. The decision to resign was taken on the advice of the then Congress president Soniaji Gandhi.” He further went on to say that the Sena should stick to the basic rule of an alliance and respect the decision of an ally.

“There is a particular decision-making process in the Congress party and decisions are taken accordingly. The party president takes a decision that everyone in the party respects and implements it. The allegations that after the resignation of Nana Patole, a series of crises started for the MVA government is baseless. Ifs and buts have no value in politics. This is the party’s internal matter,” he added.

(Edited by Smriti Sinha)