In a significant move ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress leader Ravi Raja has announced his resignation from the party and his intent to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. Raja, who has served as the leader of the Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai for over 44 years, expressed his sentiments in a resignation letter posted on X. He stated, “Since 1980, as a member of the Youth Congress, I have dedicated myself to the party, and today I feel that my 44 years of service have not been valued, leading to my decision to resign from my position.”
Here I am submitting my resignation from @INCIndia party after serving the party for 44 years… pic.twitter.com/3e02roPJzH
— Ravi Raja (@ravirajaINC) October 31, 2024
The 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for a single phase on November 20, with results to be counted on November 23. The main competition is between two alliances: the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the ruling Mahayuti. The MVA consists of the Congress, the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar. In contrast, the Mahayuti coalition includes the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the BJP, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
As the elections approach, both alliances are experiencing various developments, including unrest among party members and protests regarding candidate nominations. The BJP has expressed opposition to Nawab Malik, the NCP candidate for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency. “Nawab Malik should heed our concerns regarding his candidacy with the NCP. We remain firm on the stance Devendra ji expressed earlier,” stated Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the BJP’s Maharashtra state president.
Additionally, the MVA is dealing with protests from members dissatisfied with the seat-sharing arrangements. Earlier, Ramesh Chennithala, the Maharashtra Congress in-charge, urged any Congress leader who had filed nominations as independents to withdraw their candidacies. “We have only provided ‘A’ and ‘B’ forms to candidates whose names have been officially announced by the party. Those Congress leaders who have submitted independent nominations should retract them,” he advised.