SP To Exit MVA Over Sena-UBT’s Remarks On Babri Masjid Demolition, Abu Azmi Casts Doubt Over Allaince’s Survival

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Saturday announced its decision to withdraw from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) following controversial remarks by a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who hailed the Babri Masjid demolition in a social media post and a related newspaper advertisement.  

SP’s Maharashtra unit president, Abu Azmi, criticised the Shiv Sena (UBT) for its stance. He told news agency PTI, “An advertisement was given by Shiv Sena (UBT) in a newspaper congratulating those who demolished Babri Masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray) aide has also posted on X hailing the demolition of the mosque.”  

Azmi confirmed the party’s exit from the alliance, adding, “We are quitting the MVA. I am speaking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Singh Yadav.” 

Expressing his dissatisfaction with such remarks coming from an ally, Azmi questioned, “If anyone in the MVA speaks such language, what is the difference between the BJP and them? Why should we stay with them?”  

Speaking to news agency ANI, Azmi expressed uncertainty over MVA’s future, “They (Shiv Sena – UBT) were saying that they have become secular now – as they were in alliance with Congress, NCP-SP and SP. After they lost, they started doing what they used to do. I think Maha Vikas Aghadi will not continue if such things happen.”

Bhaskar Jadhav, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA responded to Samajwadi Party saying, “The Babri Masjid issue dates back to 1992-1993. Did it happen 31 years later? Has the Samajwadi Party only now realised that this has been Shiv Sena’s stance? Even though the Samajwadi Party is citing Babri as the reason for leaving the MVA, I feel they have tilted in favour of the ruling party.”

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Fakhrul Hasan Chaand stated that the final decision in this regard will be taken by the national leadership. He told PTI, “Abu Asim Azmi is a senior leader of the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra, but it is upon the national leadership to decide about the party’s alliance with others. Abu Asim Azmi has said something, but the national leadership of the party will decide about it.” 

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Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Milind Narvekar’s Post On Babri Masjid Demolition

The controversy erupted after Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Milind Narvekar posted a photograph of the Babri Masjid demolition accompanied by a quote from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, which read, “I am proud of those who did this.” Narvekar also included images of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and himself in the post.   

The SP, which has threatened to walk out of the opposition alliance, has two members in the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, a special three-day session of the newly-constituted 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly began on Saturday where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took oath as a member.

Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were also administered oath as members of the Maharashtra assembly by the legislative assembly’s pro-tem speaker Kalidas Kolambkar soon after the proceedings of the House began at 11 am.

In Maharashtra assembly polls, the Mahayuti alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a resounding mandate by winning 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The new Devendra Fadnavis-led government was sworn in on December 5 and Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar took oath as deputy chief ministers. 

(With Input By Mritunjay Singh)