SP Acting as ‘B-Team’: Aaditya Thackeray Criticizes Samajwadi Party’s Plan to Withdraw from Alliance

Tensions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance are escalating, with Aaditya Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) criticizing the Maharashtra unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP) for its intention to withdraw from the coalition over alleged “Hindutva credentials.”

Thackeray emphasized that the Shiv Sena’s interpretation of Hindutva is inclusive, stating, “Our Hindutva is about ‘hriday mein Ram aur haath ko kaam’ (Ram in the heart and work in the hands)… Our Hindutva is about taking everyone together.”

While refraining from direct criticism of SP national leader Akhilesh Yadav, Thackeray accused the Maharashtra SP of acting as a “B-team” for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His comments came in response to Maharashtra SP chief Abu Azmi’s announcement to withdraw from the MVA, triggered by a controversial social media post from a Shiv Sena (UBT) legislative council member.

The post, shared by Milind Narvekar, featured an image of the Babri Masjid demolition alongside a quote from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray expressing pride in the act. Azmi condemned the post, stating that the SP could no longer remain in the MVA, accusing Shiv Sena (UBT) of glorifying those responsible for the Babri Masjid demolition, which he described as a “criminal act” according to the Supreme Court.

Azmi further criticized the Shiv Sena for shifting its ideology

Azmi further criticized the Shiv Sena for shifting its ideology post-election losses, claiming that the MVA’s survival is at stake if such behavior continues. He noted that the SP had contested eight seats in the recent elections, winning only two, while alleging that the MVA fielded candidates against them in seven constituencies.

In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for the national leadership of the Samajwadi Party distanced the party from Azmi’s remarks, stating, “Abu Asim Azmi is a senior leader of the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra, but decisions about the party’s alliances are made by the national leadership.”

This development occurs amid growing discord within the INDIA bloc on various issues, particularly following the Congress party’s poor performance in recent assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra.