MVA backs Ambadas Danve for Council polls, unites ahead of 2029
Synopsis
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The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Thursday, 30 April held a high-level meeting in Mumbai and resolved to contest upcoming elections as a unified front, naming Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve — former Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council — as its consensus candidate for the forthcoming Council elections. The Indian National Congress (Congress) extended its full support to the nomination, signalling a reset after months of reported coordination gaps within the alliance.
Key Leaders at the Table
The meeting brought together senior figures from all three constituent parties. Congress was represented by state President Harshvardhan Sapkal, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and MLC group leader Satej (Bunty) Patil. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) sent working president and MP Supriya Sule. Shiv Sena (UBT) was represented by former minister Anil Parab, MP Anil Desai, and MLC Milind Narvekar.
Discussions were also held over the phone with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala to finalise the alliance's strategy for both the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.
What the Congress Said
Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, state Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal reaffirmed that the MVA was founded on a Common Minimum Programme to protect the Constitution and uphold Maharashtra's progressive traditions.
