Samajwadi Party quits Maha Vikas Aghadi over Uddhav aide’s remark on Babri Mosque demolition

Why Samajwadi Party decide to walk out of MVA?

In a significant political development, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced its exit from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra following a controversial social media post by a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, Milind Narvekar. The post celebrated the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, triggering a backlash from the Samajwadi Party, which cited communal concerns as the reason for its departure.

The controversial post

On the 32nd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, Milind Narvekar, a senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), shared a photo of the demolished mosque with a quote attributed to Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray: “I am proud of those who did this.” The post also featured images of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and Narvekar himself.

pic.twitter.com/3nZYC4EK0e

— Milind Narvekar (@NarvekarMilind_) December 5, 2024

The post stirred immediate outrage within the Samajwadi Party. State president Abu Asim Azmi criticized the Shiv Sena (UBT) for promoting communal ideologies contrary to the MVA’s founding principles of secularism and constitutional integrity.

Samajwadi Party’s stance

Announcing the decision to leave the alliance, Azmi stated, “Samajwadi Party can never remain with communal ideology; hence, we are separating from Maha Vikas Aghadi.” He further emphasized that staying in an alliance with a party promoting such sentiments would compromise the SP’s secular credentials.

Azmi added, “An advertisement was given by Shiv Sena (UBT) in a newspaper congratulating those who demolished the Babri Masjid. His aide also posted on X hailing the demolition. If anyone in the MVA speaks this language, how are they different from the BJP?”

Political fallout

The Samajwadi Party’s exit from the MVA comes at a time when the alliance is facing significant political challenges. In the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections, the ruling Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, secured 230 out of 288 seats. In contrast, the Congress won only 16 of the 103 seats it contested, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP won 20 and 10 seats, respectively. The Samajwadi Party secured two seats.

The newly elected MLAs from the MVA staged a walkout during the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s oath-taking ceremony, alleging election fraud through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) manipulation. Senior opposition leaders, including Aditya Thackeray, Nana Patole (Congress), and Jitendra Awhad (NCP), echoed concerns about the “undemocratic” practices of the ruling coalition and demanded a return to ballot-based voting.

“This is not the public’s mandate—it is the mandate of EVMs and the Election Commission of India,” Aditya Thackeray declared.

MVA’s response and future prospects

Rais Shaikh, another senior SP leader, underscored that the MVA was formed on the principles of upholding secular values and protecting the Constitution. “If such radical stances continue, not just the Samajwadi Party but other parties may reconsider their position in the alliance,” he warned.

While the Samajwadi Party has officially severed ties with the MVA, political analysts believe the controversy could further weaken the opposition bloc, already struggling against the formidable MahaYuti alliance led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.

The coming weeks will be crucial for the MVA, as it navigates its internal crisis amid mounting challenges from both within and outside the alliance.

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