Pune, May 29:-Cracks have once again surfaced within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as tensions escalated following a pointed remark made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, which appeared to be aimed at Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule.
The comment, widely perceived as a veiled jibe, has drawn sharp criticism from NCP(SP)’s Pune city president Prashant Jagtap, who publicly condemned Raut’s statement, calling it both “inappropriate” and “damaging to the alliance’s unity.”
The friction comes at a sensitive time for the MVA, with speculation swirling around a potential rapprochement between the two NCP factions—one led by Sharad Pawar, the other by his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Sharad Pawar recently said that it would be up to Supriya Sule to decide how to engage with Ajit’s camp, which many believe triggered Raut’s offhanded comment.
Reacting strongly, Jagtap urged leaders to exercise restraint and focus on maintaining internal harmony, especially with crucial civic elections looming. “Instead of public potshots, senior leaders should focus on strengthening coordination within the alliance. Every careless word becomes fodder for our political opponents,” he said.
Jagtap’s pushback reflects deeper anxieties within the MVA about internal discontent surfacing in public, especially as the alliance prepares for a tough electoral fight against the BJP-led NDA in upcoming municipal and state polls.
While both Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP(SP) have repeatedly voiced their commitment to the MVA, episodes like this raise concerns about whether the alliance can hold firm under pressure. The coming weeks will test not just the leadership’s resolve, but also the coalition’s ability to stay united amid shifting loyalties and ongoing political realignments
