Maharashtra assembly elections: Will back any Congress & NCP(SP) CM candidate, says Uddhav Thackeray

NEW DELHI: Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday expressed his willingness to support any candidate put forward by the Congress and NCP(SP) as the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) chief ministerial face for the upcoming state elections.

While addressing Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) cadres, Uddhav emphasised that Maharashtra assembly elections will be a fight to protect self-respect of the state.



"Let's decide the CM face of Maha Vikas Aghadi, I will support it. Let Congress, NCP-SCP suggest their CM face, I will support it because we have to work for the betterment of Maharashtra and I want to give a reply to these '50 khokas' & 'gaddar' that people want us, not you," Uddhav said.

Drawing from his past experience of forming an alliance with the BJP, Uddhav said that the chief ministerial candidate should be determined in advance, rather than by the principle of the party that secures the most seats in the elections.



"After our experience of alliance with BJP, we are of the view that we should not follow the policy of CM post for party with the most number of MLAs in the alliance. In several past elections, with an alliance with BJP, we have experienced that to make maximum number of MLAs, parties themselves try to put their other allies' candidates down. So I will not be in favour that the party with the most number of MLAs should get the CM post," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray urged the Maha Vikas Aghadi cadres to act as representatives of the opposition alliance in the state. The Maharashtra assembly elections are expected to take place in October or November. The MVA consists of the Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), and Congress.


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.