"MVA is an unnatural alliance": Sanjay Nirupam criticizes Shiv Sena (UBT)-Congress partnership

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 9 (ANI): Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said on Monday that the Shiv Sena (UBT) allied with the Congress to secure Muslim votes in the recent concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra, describing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as an "unnatural alliance."
Speaking to ANI, Nirpuam said, "Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Samajwadi party are an unnatural alliance. They allied with the Congress because they wanted Muslim votes. Muslims thought they should vote for Shiv Sena (UBT) to defeat the BJP. This is the same Shiv Sena (UBT) that celebrated the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The Muslims of the country, especially Maharashtra, need to think about whether the party they are voting for respects them."
On Saturday, SP Maharashtra president Abu Azmi announced the party's exit from the MVA allaince due to the remarks made by a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader.
"Samajwadi Party was, is, and will always be against communalism. SP leaves Maha Vikas Aghadi because of Shiv Sena (UBT)," Azmi wrote in a post on X.
Azmi referred to a Shiv Sena (UBT) post featuring an image of the Babri Masjid and Balasaheb Thackeray, expressing support for the mosque's demolition.
Following Samajwadi Party's departure from the MVA alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticized the SP Maharashtra unit, suggesting it sometimes acts as the "B team of BJP."
"I would not like to comment much on them. Akhilesh Yadav is fighting his fight, but the SP here (Maharashtra unit of SP) sometimes behaves like the B team of BJP... Our Hindutva is clear...Our Hindutva is about 'hriday mein Ram aur haath ko kaam'...Our Hindutva is about taking everyone together," Thackeray said while addressing reporters.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a huge drubbing in the recent Maharashtra Assembly Elections with Congress winning just 16 seats. Its alliance partner, Shiv Sena (UBT), won 20 seats, while the NCP (SCP) secured only 10 seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, secured a landslide win with 235 seats. Its allies, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party also made notable gains, with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (ANI)