Congress to Field Candidate for Maharashtra Council Polls, Signs of Rift in MVA Alliance Deepen

Congress has announced it will contest the lone winnable seat for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections after the Uddhav Thackeray faction nominated Ambadas Danve, triggering fresh tension within the alliance.

April 30, 2026 | Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) appears headed for an internal showdown in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, after the Congress declared it will field its own candidate, raising concerns of an inevitable split within the opposition alliance.

The controversy erupted after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction announced Ambadas Danve as its nominee for the election to one of the nine vacant Legislative Council seats. The MVA is believed to have the numbers to secure only one seat comfortably, making the decision politically sensitive for alliance partners.

Reacting strongly, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal stated that the party will now enter the race with its own candidate. The announcement has intensified speculation that coordination within the alliance has weakened, especially at a time when unity is crucial ahead of key electoral battles.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction has already declared its support for the Thackeray group’s nominee, further isolating the Congress position. While the Thackeray faction holds 20 MLAs and the Pawar group has 10 MLAs, their combined strength suggests Danve’s victory should be assured. However, the election is conducted through secret voting, and any internal cross-voting could alter outcomes unexpectedly.

Congress leaders had earlier indicated that they would support Uddhav Thackeray if he chose to contest personally. Sapkal had reportedly clarified that if Thackeray was not the candidate, Congress would reserve the right to nominate its own representative. Despite demands from Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders urging Thackeray to contest, the party instead chose Danve, reportedly leading to strong dissatisfaction within Congress ranks.

Sources indicate Sapkal has conveyed the matter to the party high command, following which the decision to contest independently was taken. If Congress enters the fray, it will have only 16 votes, meaning it requires an additional 12 votes to secure victory. Where those votes could come from remains unclear, adding uncertainty to the contest and highlighting the growing strain within the MVA.

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