Samajwadi Party Exits Maha Vikas Aghadi Over Babri Mosque Controversy
Samajwadi Party quits MVA over Shiv Sena leader's Babri Mosque remarks, citing communal ideology concerns
Samajwadi Party exits MVA over Shiv Sena (UBT) leader’s Babri Mosque demolition remarks, protests ensue
The Samajwadi Party (SP) has withdrawn from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra following a controversial remark by a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray on the Babri Mosque demolition.
On the 32nd anniversary of the mosque’s demolition, Milind Narvekar, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, shared a social media post featuring the mosque alongside a quote from Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray: “I am proud of those who did this.” The post also included images of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and Narvekar himself.
SP state president Abu Asim Azmi condemned the remarks, calling them communal and incompatible with the party’s secular values. “Samajwadi Party can never stay with communal ideology. We are separating from the MVA,” Azmi stated. He also criticized an advertisement by the Shiv Sena (UBT) praising the mosque’s demolition.
Azmi further questioned the alliance’s commitment to secularism, saying, “If such statements are made, what is the difference between the BJP and MVA? We cannot be part of this.” SP has two MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly. Azmi and fellow party leader Rais Shaikh defied the MVA’s boycott of the assembly’s oath-taking ceremony and took their oaths.
— Milind Narvekar (@NarvekarMilind_) December 5, 2024
Since the outcome of the Maharashtra Assembly election, the MVA—which is made up of the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena (UBT)—has been dealing with difficulties. Congress won sixteen seats, the NCP won ten, and the Shiv Sena (UBT) won twenty. The Samajwadi Party, on the other hand, has withdrawn as the alliance challenges the win of the ruling Mahayuti coalition, claiming that the EVM was manipulated.
सांप्रदायिक विचारधारा के साथ समाजवादी पार्टी कभी नहीं रह सकती इस लिए हम खुदको महविकास आघाड़ी से अलग करते है।#SamajwadiParty #MahaVikasAghadi #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/uMnlL97KDi
— Abu Asim Azmi (@abuasimazmi) December 7, 2024
MVA leaders staged a walkout during the assembly oath-taking ceremony, protesting what they termed undemocratic practices. Aaditya Thackeray accused the ruling coalition of manipulating Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and called for a return to ballot paper-based voting.
The SP’s departure has dealt a significant blow to the opposition alliance, with Rais Shaikh urging Shiv Sena (UBT) to clarify its stance and adhere to the secular principles that formed the basis of the MVA
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