Pawar Sr calls MVA meet to keep allies together

The announcement comes as cracks have emerged in the opposition alliance following poor showing in assembly polls

- Faisal Malik

MUMBAI: Sharad Pawar, chief of the NCP (SP), has stepped in to calm the turbulence within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The architect of the opposition coalition established five years ago, Pawar said on Tuesday that he would convene a meeting of the MVA's three constituents to discuss whether they should unite to contest the upcoming local body elections.

Pawar's announcement comes as the MVA flounders following its embarrassing showing in the assembly elections. As deep fissures appear to develop in the coalition, and the Shiv Sena (UBT) says it will contest the local body elections alone, questions are being raised about how sustainable the opposition alliance really is.

Pawar, however, added a rider to his plan. He pointed out that the mandate of the INDIA alliance at the centre and the MVA in Maharashtra is to contest elections together at the national and state level, respectively, not at the local level.