Wadettiwar’s Matoshree Tryst Backfires, Sena (UBT) Says No Trust In Cong

Chandrapur: Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar's high-profile visit to Matoshree to seal a power-sharing formula failed to secure Sena (UBT)'s support, as the party forged an unexpected tie-up with BJP in the Chandrapur mayoral election — raising a larger political question: Why did an MVA ally cross over to back a rival? The answer appears rooted in Congress infighting, delayed negotiations, and an inability to offer firm commitments on the mayor's post.A sharp internal rift between MP Pratibha Dhanorkar and Wadettiwar derailed consensus within Congress, weakening its negotiating prowess with allies. Sena (UBT), which engaged in prolonged talks with Congress, ultimately opted for a BJP-backed power-sharing arrangement that altered the civic power balance, despite Congress being the single largest party.
For days, tensions simmered between rival Congress camps over the mayoral nomination. The divide became public when Dhanorkar formed a separate bloc of 13 corporators, exposing deep fractures. Even intervention by the state leadership failed to unify local ranks. Wadettiwar's outreach to Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray resulted in a proposed 50-50 sharing formula, but internal dissent — particularly from the Dhanorkar camp — undermined the arrangement and forced national leaders to step in.The eventual compromise, offering the mayor's post to the Dhanorkar faction and a standing committee chairmanship to allies, left little room to accommodate Sena (UBT)'s demands. Crucial votes were either split or neutralised during the election, costing Congress control of the mayor's office.Explaining the decision to back BJP, Sena (UBT) district chief Sandeep Girhe said, "Congress was unable to take decisions on time. There was no clarity or firm commitment on the mayor's post. Because of Congress's internal infighting, decisions kept getting delayed. We waited for clarity, but it did not come. That is why we were forced to take a decision in the interest of stability and the city's administration." Despite numerical strength, Congress's lack of strategic coordination and alliance management ultimately left it out of power.