Congress-NCP spat over local body polls escalates rift within Maharashtra government

The Congress-NCP spat over local body elections has widened the schism within Maharashtra's government.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole is mincing no words while attacking its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), for backstabbing them by joining hands with the BJP in a recent local body poll.

Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader, dismissed the allegations, claiming that they were unimportant given his own history of jumping parties.

A recent heated exchange of words between Congress and NCP leaders exposed the growing schism within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

After returning from the Congress's Chintan Shivir in Jaipur, Nana Patole stated, "NCP is systematically trying to wipe out Congress from the state by not allocating funds to our MLA's and ill-treating us. I have complained about the recent updates to our high command and they will reach some conclusion soon."

Ajit Pawar clarified: "What he wants to tell their high command is an internal matter. We don't need to be concerned about it. However, disagreements between government allies are unavoidable. We can at least have a discussion and work out our differences."

Pawar's remark about jumping parties didn't sit well with Patole. He retaliated, saying, "The entire country knows that I was never as desperate for power as he was. I openly resigned from the BJP due to differences and joined the Congress in broad daylight."

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