The Maha Vikas Aghadi (transl. Grand Development Front; abbreviated as MVA), is is a state-level political alliance of centre to centre-right political parties in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is one of the two major political alliances in Maharashtra. The alliance was formed under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray of SHS (UBT) (then Shiv Sena), Sharad Pawar of the NCP and Sonia Gandhi of the INC, along with the support from the Samajwadi Party, PWPI, CPI(M) and several other political parties including Independent MLAs.[2][3] MVA is currently the [4][5] official opposition in Maharashtra Legislature.[6] Most of the MVA constituents are members of the Indian National Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance at pan-India level.
Maha Vikas Aghadi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | MVA |
| Leader | Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar (Leader of the Opposition) |
| President | Uddhav Thackeray |
| Chairman | Sharad Pawar |
| Secretary | Balasaheb Thorat |
| Spokesperson | Clyde Crasto[1] |
| Lok Sabha Leader | Supriya Sule |
| Rajya Sabha Leader | Sharad Pawar |
| Founders | Uddhav Thackeray Sharad Pawar Prithviraj Chavan |
| Founded | 26 November 2019 |
| Preceded by | Maha Aghadi |
| Political position | Big tent[a] |
| National affiliation | INDIA |
| Colours | Blue |
| Lok Sabha | 31 / 48 |
| Rajya Sabha | 7 / 19 |
| Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | 69 / 288 |
| Maharashtra Legislative Council | 17 / 78 |
Formation
editThe alliance was formed by non-NDA political parties in Maharashtra as a result of 2019 Maharashtra political crisis where the Shiv Sena left the NDA post-polls over differences with the BJP in their preferred candidates for Chief Minister and other important portfolio positions after the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election. Sharad Pawar, Sanjay Raut, Ahmed Patel and other leaders across the NCP, INC and Shiv Sena worked to realise a new alliance after Shiv Sena and BJP parted ways and Shiv Sena's lone Union Minister in Modi's cabinet, Arvind Sawant, tendered his resignation.[7]
Uddhav Thackeray was elected as the president of the MVA after a meeting on 26 November 2019. He took oath of the office and secrecy on 28 November 2019 as the 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra state.[8][9]
In 2022, during a party meeting, Uddhav Thackeray explained his move to pull out of NDA. He said, "We supported the BJP wholeheartedly to enable them to fulfill their national ambitions. The understanding was they will go national while we will lead in Maharashtra. But we were betrayed and attempts were made to destroy us in our home. So we had to hit back". Thackeray accused BJP of dumping its allies according to its political convenience. He said, "BJP doesn't mean Hindutva. I stand by my comment that Shiv Sena had wasted 25 years in alliance with BJP."[10]
Working
editGiven the varied ideologies among the partner parties, there was a plan to form two committees for guidance of the coalition - a co-ordination committee for implementation of common minimum programme and other higher decision making committee that will include party chiefs.[11]
History
editShiv Sena left NDA
editA political crisis in the Indian state of Maharashtra occurred on 21 October 2019 after the declaration of results of the 2019 legislative assembly election over the formation of a new state government. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party Shiv Sena alliance crossed the majority of 145 seats needed in the assembly by winning a total of 161 seats in the alliance. Individually BJP won 105 and SHS won 56 seats. The Opposition INC-NCP Alliance with 106 seats did not reach the majority mark. Individually INC won 44 and NCP won 54 seats.
Shiv Sena's Shinde faction breakaway
editEknath Shinde, a senior Shiv Sena leader, wanted to break the Maha Vikas Aghadi and establish BJP-Shiv Sena coalition again. Subsequently he gathered the support of 2/3rd members of his party.[12][13] On 29 June, Uddhav Thackeray resigned from the post of Chief Minister ahead of the No-confidence motion. Eknath Shinde took oath as the new Chief Minister with Devendra Fadnavis as Deputy CM on 30 June.[14]
NCP's Ajit Pawar faction breakaway
editAjit Pawar takes oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party breaks into two camps and 9 NCP MLAs with former UPA Minister Praful Patel take oath as Cabinet Minister in Eknath Shinde-led Government of Maharashtra.
Electoral Performance
editIndian General Election results (In Maharashtra)
edit| Year | Seats won/ Seats contested |
Change in Seats | Voteshare (%) | +/- (%) | Popular vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31 / 48
|
 25
|
43.71% | 11.14%
|
25,015,819 |
Current alliance members
edit- Note: MPs in the Rajya Sabha And Lok Sabha only include those from Maharashtra seats
| Party | Symbol | Flag | MLAs in Maharashtra Assembly | MLCs in Maharashtra Council | MPs in Lok Sabha | MPs in Rajya Sabha | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian National Congress | 
|
|
37 / 288
|
7 / 78
|
14 / 48
|
3 / 19
| |
| Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) | 
|
_flag.png){kind=small}
|
16 / 288
|
7 / 78
|
9 / 48
|
2 / 19
| |
| Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) | 
|
12 / 288
|
3 / 78
|
8 / 48
|
2 / 19
| ||
| Samajwadi Party | 
|
|
2 / 288
|
0 / 78
|
0 / 48
|
0 / 19
| |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 
|
|
1 / 288
|
0 / 78
|
0 / 48
|
0 / 19
| |
| Communist Party of India | 
|
|
0 / 288
|
0 / 78
|
0 / 48
|
0 / 19
| |
| Peasants and Workers Party of India | 1 / 288
|
1 / 78
|
0 / 48
|
0 / 19
| |||
| Total | 69 / 288
|
24 / 78
|
31 / 48
|
9 / 19
| |||
Past members
edit| Party | Base State | Year of withdrawal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prahar Janshakti Party | Maharashtra | 2022 | |
| Bahujan Vikas Aghadi | Maharashtra | 2022 | |
| Shiv Sena | Maharashtra | 2022 | |
| Nationalist Congress Party | Maharashtra | 2023 | |
| Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathan | Maharashtra | 2023 | |
| Janata Dal (United) | Bihar | 2024 | |
| Rashtriya Samaj Paksha | Maharashtra | 2024 | |
| Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi | 2024 | ||
References
edit- ^ "'Tutari Coming to Shake Delhi's Throne': Sharad Pawar's NCP Gets New Poll Symbol".
- ^ "Peasants and Workers Party MLA Shyamsundar Shinde, CPI(M) member Vinod Nikole and Swabhimani Paksha MLA Devendra Bhuyar are the MLAs from smaller parties who were present for the MVA meeting". 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Sena NCP Congress alliance could be named Maha Vasooli Aghadi". Clipper28.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Maharashtra Legislative Council polls: MVA bags 3 seats, defeats BJP on Gadkari's home turf". 3 February 2023.
- ^ Maharashtra Legislative Council
- ^ Maharashtra Legislative Assembly & Maharashtra Legislative Council
- ^ "Shiv Sena's MP Arvind Sawant resigns from Modi cabinet". Scroll.in. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Udhav Thackeray named as CM candidate of Maha Vikas Aghadi". First Post. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Udhav Thackeray swearing in as CM". Times of India. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ ""Wasted 25 Years In Alliance With BJP...," Says Uddhav Thackeray". NDTV.com. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Two panels to guide maha Vikas Aghadi". Deccan Herald. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Maharashtra: The political crisis brewing in India's richest state". 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Maharashtra crisis: Uddhav Thackeray-led faction in hopeless ." The Times of India. 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Eknath Shinde Takes Oath As Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis His Deputy".
- ^ Members consists of right-wing to left parties.