Mumbai: Congress should go solo in the Mumbai civic polls: That’s the advice former Mumbai Congress president Bhai Jagtap has given his party. Reactions from Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners have been swift and sharp.
Jagtap has also completely ruled out a tie-up with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), something that has been speculated recently.
According to Jagtap, the party’s rank and file said at a recent meeting that the Congress should contest solo.
“Forget Raj Thackeray, we won’t even ally with Uddhav Thackeray. We will go solo. This is not my stand alone but of many in the party that Congress should fight alone. Because these are local body polls and these polls are of ground workers. They should get an opportunity to contest and so we should not even tie-up with Shiv Sena UBT, leave alone Raj Thackeray,” Jagtap said.
He said that last week when the party’s political affairs committee met, and when opinions were sought, he said that whether it was the BMC or any other local body polls, Congress should fight alone.
“This is my opinion. Finally, whether to form alliance or not, these decisions are taken by high command. This is not my party’s opinion. I am not the head of Mumbai unit. Varsha tai is and she will have to decide the party’s stand,” he further added.
Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said that Jagtap’s opinion was his own but agreed that many Congress workers did feel they should fight separately.
“That is his personal stand, but when the party meeting was held, many did feel that we should fight alone. However, the final decision will be taken by the high command. But one thing is for sure, those who do not believe in the Constitution, we will have to think about whether to form an alliance with them or not,” Gaikwad said to the media.
She also said that when MVA was formed, a common minimum programme was kept in mind and, “We came together for democracy and Constitution”.
“These decisions will be taken at the right time and everyone in the party has a right to give their opinions. And there is a process in our party that will be followed before taking a decision,” she added.
The growing closeness of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray has given rise to speculation that both may form an alliance for the upcoming BMC polls. Congress, which is a part of the MVA, feels that if they have to form an alliance with Raj Thackeray, it might impact their votebank, which consists of North Indians and Muslims, leaders had previously told ThePrint.
Avinash Abhyankar, leader of MNS, said that the decision on an alliance has not yet been taken, so there was no question of responding to the Congress’ stand. “Our leader has not taken any decision. So how does it matter? Let him say it,” Abhyankar told the media.
Jagtap’s stand has not gone down well with MVA partners either.
Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut dismissed Jagtap’s suggestion. “Let him say whatever he wants,” Raut told the media.
Amol Matele, NCP (SP) Mumbai spokesperson, said on social media that Jagtap’s idea will benefit the BJP. “Is the slogan given for Congress’ revival or to benefit the BJP? Because the public has seen that every “going solo” slogan has ended up with someone’s support,” Matele said.
राजकारणात नारे अनेक असतात… पण हेतू मात्र वेगवेगळे! मुंबई काँग्रेसचे माजी अध्यक्ष आणि आमदार भाई जगताप यांनी महानगरपालिकेसाठी “स्वबळावर लढू” असा नारा दिला आहे म्हणे…
पण आता मुंबईकरांचा प्रश्न अगदी साधा आहे.
हा नारा काँग्रेसच्या पुनरुत्थानासाठी दिला आहे की भारतीय जनता पक्षाच्या… pic.twitter.com/4zopcrFqdx
— Adv.Amol Matele ॲड.अमोल मातेले (@AdvAmolMatele) October 22, 2025
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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