PM Modi anticipates the severe defeat of Congress
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has predicted a significant defeat for Congress in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, asserting that the party will struggle even to become a valid opposition. Speaking at a rally in Dindori, Maharashtra, Modi also suggested that Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena would merge with Congress and other smaller parties in the state. Modi claimed that this potential merger would signify the demise of the “fake Shiv Sena,” referring to comments made by Shiv Sena founder Bala Saheb Thackeray, who had stated that he would dissolve the party if it ever became akin to Congress. The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid political shifts in Maharashtra, where a local Shiv Sena functionary, Arvind More, resigned in protest after being denied a spot on stage at Modi’s rally. More, who oversees the party unit in the Kalyan-Murbad constituency, announced his resignation on Wednesday, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership and its alliance with the BJP. His resignation could potentially impact the party’s performance in the upcoming elections.
In the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, six constituencies in Mumbai, including Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central, are set to vote. Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi, and Thane are other constituencies participating in this phase. With 48 Lok Sabha seats, Maharashtra holds significant electoral weight, second only to Uttar Pradesh. It’s crucial to note the historical performance of the major parties in Maharashtra. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena won 18 out of 23 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), then part of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats, winning four. Following a split in 2022, the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena aligned with the BJP. This historical context is essential for understanding the current political shifts in Maharashtra.
[Image Source: Times Now]
