Samajwadi Party quits MVA over Shiv Sena (UBT) leader’s Babri demolition post

Maharastra, Dec 7 : The Samajwadi Party announced on Saturday that it would exit the opposition MVA IN Maharashtra after a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray praised the demolition of the Babri mosque and a related newspaper advertisement.

Maharashtra SP unit chief Abu Azmi said, “An advertisement was published by Shiv Sena (UBT) congratulating those responsible for demolishing the Babri masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray’s) aide also posted on X applauding the demolition.”

“We are quitting the MVA. I am speaking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Singh Yadav,” Azmi told PTI.

The Samajwadi Party’s decision to quit MVA comes in response to a post by Sena (UBT) MLC Milind Narvekar regarding the demolition of the Babri Masjid, On the 32nd anniversary of the incident, Narvekar shared a photograph of the demolition, accompanied by a quote from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray that read, “I am proud of those who did this.”

The post also featured images of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and Narvekar himself.

“If anyone in the MVA speaks such language, what is the difference between the BJP and them? Why should we stay with them?” Azmi asked.

He said the mosque was demolished and no one was punished for it, adding that people had forgotten about it but wounds are being reopened.

“The Congress has to decide whether it can ally with someone who speaks like this,” he told reporters.

Abu Azmi later wrote on X, “Samajwadi Party can never remain with a communal ideology, hence we separate ourselves from Maha Vikas Aghadi.”

SP MLA Rais Shaikh also took to X to condemn the post he wrote, “This is to remind you that the Shiv Sena (UBT) party enjoyed enormous support from secular votes in the last two elections—Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. The glorification of the dark day in India’s history is uncalled for and unwarranted. I strongly condemn such glorification.”

The Samajwadi Party has two MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly. Despite the MVA parties skipping the oath-taking ceremony today, state president Abu Asim Azmi and Rais Shaikh defied the boycott call and took their oaths.

When asked about the Samajwadi party’s decision to quit the MVA, senior Congress leader Nitin Raut said “Abu Azmi has made a statement (of quitting the MVA). We will discuss with the Samajwadi Party about its decision and understand what the problem is.”

“It is unlikely to hurt the MVA directly because the SP has very limited presence in the state.

Hitting back, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav stated that his party’s stance on the Babri Masjid has remained unchanged since 1992. He questioned whether the Samajwadi Party had only now realised Shiv Sena (UBT)’s position after 31 years. Jadhav also accused the SP of aligning itself with the ruling alliance, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Azmi also said there was no coordination with parties like Samajwadi Party during the Maharashtra assembly polls.

The SP had contested eight seats and won two and had a friendly contest on six.

The Samajwadi Party was part of the larger opposition of the MVA, which primarily comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).

The Akhilesh Yadav-led party’s move also reflects the differences within the INDIA bloc at the national level, of which the MVA is part of.

On Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance signalling her intent to take charge of the bloc if given the opportunity amid the drubbing received by the Congress in assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra.

-PTI