Fresh rift brews in INDIA bloc: Congress refuses alliance with Raj Thackeray in Maharashtra

Senior Congress leader and former Mumbai Congress president Bhai Jagtap declared on Tuesday that the party will not ally with Raj Thackeray’s MNS in the upcoming civic elections.

He also hinted that the Congress may go solo, distancing itself even from its existing ally, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT).

“The Congress will contest independently and not ally with Raj Thackeray. The issue was discussed recently in a meeting chaired by Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala,” Jagtap said, though no formal announcement has been made by the party’s high command yet.

Shiv Sena hits back

Uddhav Thackeray’s camp reacted sharply to Jagtap’s remarks. Anand Dubey, a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, said decisions on alliances are not made at the state level.

“The final call on alliances will be taken by senior leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Uddhav Thackeray,” Dubey said.

“Do not challenge us. We are Shiv Sena. In the last election, we contested alone and defeated the BJP. We respect our allies but are fully prepared to go solo if needed,” he added.

The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been partners in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance since 2019, an unlikely coalition brought together by Pawar that has survived ideological differences and multiple political upheavals.

However, with Uddhav Thackeray reportedly mending ties with his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, the potential inclusion of the MNS in the opposition camp has become a contentious issue.

The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, considered one of the richest civic polls in Asia, are seen as a crucial test for all parties.

The Thackeray cousins are believed to be exploring a possible understanding ahead of the polls, raising questions about how such an arrangement would impact the MVA’s internal balance.

There is still no official reaction from Sharad Pawar, the third pillar of the alliance, on the matter.

INDIA bloc strains spread beyond Maharashtra

The turmoil in Maharashtra mirrors growing unease within the INDIA bloc elsewhere.

In Bihar, the Congress and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have failed to finalize a seat-sharing formula for the upcoming assembly election. Both parties have fielded candidates independently in several constituencies, resulting in friendly contests that analysts say could benefit the BJP.

Adding to the uncertainty, Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM),another INDIA bloc member, has expressed dissatisfaction over being sidelined in Bihar negotiations.

The party announced that it would not contest the Bihar election and would “re-evaluate the alliance” in Jharkhand, where it shares power with the Congress and RJD in the Raipur government.

As fissures deepen across states, the INDIA bloc, formed to present a united front against the BJP ahead of the 2026 general election, faces a mounting challenge to maintain cohesion amid growing regional ambitions and personality clashes.