Sharad Pawar on Samajwadi Party : Sharad Pawar has said on SP leader Abu Azmi's announcement of leaving MVA that the central leadership of Samajwadi Party is firm on opposition unity. Apart from this, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) President Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed that there is no enthusiasm or happiness among the people of the state after the huge victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led 'Mahayuti' alliance in the results of Maharashtra Assembly elections on November 23.

Sharad Pawar took a sharp jibe at Mahayuti.

Speaking to the media in Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar said the opposition need not worry but should go to the people after this setback. He said the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will work to ensure that the government implements all its pre-poll promises, including increasing the financial assistance to women under the 'Ladki Behen' scheme from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 2,100. Pawar, who has decades of experience in politics, said, "There is no enthusiasm among the people after the massive mandate received by the Mahayuti." The Pawar-led party has won only 10 seats in the 288-member assembly.

Is SP really leaving MVA in Maharashtra?

On the question of SP leader Abu Azmi's announcement of leaving the MVA, Sharad Pawar said that the central leadership of the Samajwadi Party (SP) is firm on opposition unity. SP's Maharashtra unit president Azmi on Friday announced that his party is breaking away from the MVA because of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UTB) because Thackeray's close aide has praised those who demolished the Babri Masjid in December 1992.

On the question of the appointment of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Pawar said that the constituent parties of MVA cannot insist that they get this post because they do not have the required numbers. Samajwadi Party has two MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

After which post did SP leader Abu Azmi get angry?

SP's Maharashtra unit chief Abu Azmi said, "Shiv Sena (UTB) gave an advertisement in a newspaper congratulating people for the demolition of Babri Masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray's) colleague has also posted on 'X' praising the demolition of the mosque." Azmi said, "We are leaving MVA. I am talking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Singh Yadav." Shiv Sena (UTB) MLC Milind Narvekar had posted a post on the demolition of Babri Masjid, in response to which the SP took this step.

Narvekar posted a picture of the mosque being demolished, along with a quote by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, "I am proud of those who did this." The Shiv Sena (UTB) secretary also posted pictures of Uddhav Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray, and himself in the post. Azmi said, "If anyone in the MVA speaks such language, what is the difference between the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and them? Why should we stay with them?" The mosque was demolished and no one was punished for it, he said, adding that people have forgotten it but the wounds are being reopened.