Maha Vikas Aghadi Launches Poll Campaign in Maharashtra with Key Events in Nagpur and Mumbai
The opposition alliance in Maharashtra, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is set to kick off its poll campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections with two significant events in Nagpur and Mumbai on Wednesday.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will lead the campaign activities, beginning with a symbolic homage to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Nagpur. Rahul Gandhi will visit Deekshabhoomi, the historic site where Dr. Ambedkar and over four lakh of his followers embraced Buddhism 68 years ago. This visit will be followed by his participation in the ‘Samvidhan Sanman Sammelan’ (Honour Constitution Meeting) at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium, where he will engage with participants on the importance of safeguarding the Constitution.
The Samvidhan Sammelan is a key event for the MVA, aimed at asserting the alliance’s commitment to defending constitutional values, particularly in light of growing concerns over the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government’s policies. This event underscores the MVA’s emphasis on social justice, equality, and the protection of marginalized communities, values closely associated with Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy.
Following the Nagpur event, the leaders will head to Mumbai for a massive public rally at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), marking the official launch of the MVA’s election campaign. The rally, named Swabhiman Sabha, will be attended by Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, NCP President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, and other prominent leaders from the alliance.
At the rally, the MVA is expected to unveil its electoral guarantees for the people of Maharashtra, a key plank in the opposition’s campaign. According to Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe, the guarantees will include promises to address issues like corruption within the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the “betrayal” of Maharashtra’s pride by the BJP-led government. The MVA is also expected to highlight how the Congress-led state governments in Karnataka and Telangana have successfully implemented similar guarantees, promising that such initiatives will be replicated in Maharashtra.
“This evening, we shall unveil the Congress guarantees for the people of Maharashtra ahead of the Assembly elections and focus on exposing the corrupt practices of the ruling Mahayuti alliance government. We will also highlight how the state’s interests have been compromised for the benefit of Gujarat,” Londhe said.
The rally will be the first formal joint campaign of the MVA-INDIA bloc, a political alliance that includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP, with the backing of several other regional parties. The event marks the beginning of a series of joint rallies across the state, aimed at strengthening the opposition’s base and countering the narrative set by the ruling BJP-MahAyuTi alliance.
Assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled for November 20, 2024, and the MVA is hoping to galvanize support across the state with this united campaign. As the alliance prepares to take on the BJP-led government, its leaders are expected to continue focusing on key issues such as social justice, economic development, and the protection of the state’s interests.
The coming weeks will see more rallies and events from the MVA, as the opposition alliance works to position itself as the alternative to the incumbent government, pledging to prioritize the welfare of the people of Maharashtra.
