Sena (UBT) rebuffs Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge: Don’t blame us for your mess

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Arif Naseem Khan, Congress and Mallikarjun Kharge, president, Congress

Infighting in the Congress has now threatened ally Shiv Sena (UBT)'s high stakes in the Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra, where every Muslim vote counts for the Opposition bloc's nominees. The explanation the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has given for not fielding Arif Naseem Khan in Mumbai North Central has led to the Thackeray Sena issuing a strong rebuttal because it has been blamed for Khan's displacement. Shiv Sena (UBT) said it had no business interfering in Congress's affairs, adding the ally could still name Khan because it had three more days to file nominations.

Threat to perception

What triggered unrest in Sena (UBT) was Kharge's statement that while deciding on a candidate in alliance, the ally's views had to be considered. The senior leader had said at a rally in Assam on Sunday, "There is no question of no Muslim [candidate]. There we have a three-party alliance. Three parties have taken a decision together. So, one can't say someone was denied [a ticket]. We will compensate him [Khan]. Misunderstanding happens sometimes. He is a good worker and fighter. People also ask him why he didn't get [the ticket]. We will see what can be done in the future," he said, adding, "When three parties form an alliance, we have to select candidates according to it."

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT)

Interpretation of statement

The statement has been interpreted as Kharge's admission that the Sena leadership had made Congress replace Khan with Varsha Gaikwad. The interpretation has been widely circulated, to the chagrin of the Sena, which has much at stake in Muslim-sensitive seats, including four in the city. Sena's break-up with BJP and subsequent MVA formation somewhat changed the Muslim perception of the Sena. The Congress also seemed to have accepted the Sena pull, especially in Mumbai where it conceded more seats to the ally. That perception feared damage because of the Congress president's revelation that Sena opposed Muslims.

Previously, former Congress leader Milind Deora had alleged that the Congress high command did not press for Mumbai South Central in seat-sharing talks, because Uddhav Thackeray had asked that Gaikwad not be fielded from there. Later, Gaikwad was shifted to North Central.

Congress and Thackeray Sena have been at loggerheads over the Sangli seat where rebellion by a Congress leader has made things difficult for Sena/MVA's nominee. Congress seem to be tacitly supporting the rebel group because Thackeray didn't withdraw despite repeated requests and negotiations. The Congress hasn't taken disciplinary action against the Sangli rebel, but his counterpart in neighbouring Kolhapur was suspended immediately.

‘Didn't oppose Muslim'

Thackeray Sena's spokesperson Sanjay Raut held a press conference on Monday morning to clarify his party's and Uddhav Thackeray's stand. "Congress president Kharge said in Assam on Sunday that Naseem Khan was interested in North Central, but since he is a Muslim some of our alliance partners opposed his candidature, saying that things would be difficult.

The selection of the North Central candidate was purely a Congress subject. We had no reason to tell them who should be their candidate. It is wrong if someone says, directly or indirectly, that we opposed a Muslim candidate. The Congress still has an opportunity to change the candidate," he said.

"When Mumbai's Muslim community stands with us (Thackeray Sena) in our fight against the BJP's dictatorship, we have no reason to oppose Naseem Khan, who enjoys cordial relations with us. Khan is a good candidate. The Congress will have to decide," he added.

Congress leaders meet

As mid-day reported on Monday, the senior four of the Congress, the party's Rajya Sabha MP Chandrakant Handore, state treasurer Dr Amarjitsinh Manhas, MLC and former city president Bhai Jagtap and former minister Suresh Shetty met here again on Monday at MCA, BKC, to chart the further course. They share Khan's concern.