'We learned some lessons from Hry that will help us in Maha'

{RAMESH CHENNITHALA} CONGRESS'S MAHARASHTRA IN-CHARGE

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The Maharashtra elections are proving to be a challenge for all sides in the fray. While the ruling Mahayuti is trying to ensure that it overcomes the factors that brought down its tally in the Lok Sabha to 17 out of 48, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is hoping that it can repeat its Lok Sabha performance (30 of 48 seats). The Congress which won the largest number of seats in that election, 13, is hoping that a Haryana like situation doesn't arise again. The party was widely expected to win that election and opinion polls and exit polls agreed - but antiJat consolidation put paid to its efforts, and the Bharatiya Janata Party won comfortably. The Congress's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala explained to Sunetra Choudhury how it plans to ensure that.

Do you think that the Haryana results affected your momentum?

Not at all. Maharashtra is different. The environment is different. Issues are different. So you cannot compare. But we learned some lessons from Haryana that will help us in Maharashtra.

Like what?

One, rebels should be avoided. Two, there has to be unity in the party. There are no differences among leaders and between MVA partners. Absolute unity is ensured.

Our analysis shows that there are more rebel candidates for the MVA than the Mahayuti?