With Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole indicating that the party will contest the forthcoming polls alone and not as partners of Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that Congress is weaker than NCP and Shiv Sena and should avoid contesting the elections alone.
Speaking to ANI, Mr Athawale said, "The Maha Vikas Aghadi government was made with the help of 42 Congress MLAs. Nana Patole should speak to Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar directly over the appointment of the chief minister from their party for 2-2.5 years. If it does not happen, then they (Congress) should withdraw from the alliance."
He said the strength of the Congress party is less than NCP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and fighting on their own is not going to benefit.
Mr Athawale's statement comes amid the growing discontent in Maha Vikas Aghadi, especially Congress who indicated that it may opt for fighting the elections separately.
Asked about poll strategist Prashant Kishor's meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the union minister said, "Not all opposition parties can come together under the leadership of Sharad Pawar. Some may say it will be under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi while other may say Rahul Gandhi...It is not going to happen. In the 2024 elections, the government will be formed under the leadership of Narendra Modi."
He said Shiv Sena should take the support of the BJP to run the government where the chief minister can be from the Shiv Sena for 2.5 years and from the BJP for the rest of the term.
"Uddhav Thackeray ji recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If Congress gets separated then the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will come in minority, then the only alternative is BJP. Either Shiv Sena can support BJP or the NCP. For Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray ji should make an alliance with BJP. The formula can be like Uddhav Thackeray completes 2.5 years as the chief minister and Devendra Fadnavis can serve the rest 2.5 years," added Mr Athawale.
Former Bank Of Maharashtra Manager Missing After Rs 17 Crore Scam Surfaces In Kerala Man Bites Off Part Of Father's Thumb During Argument Over Property Near Mumbai: Cops Will Back Any Candidate Announced As Chief Minister Face: Uddhav Thackeray CBI Team At Kolkata Hospital For Digital Mapping Of Crime Scene Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Ram Charan And Upasana Level Up The Twinning Game In Chic All-Black Looks Video: Man Skis Off 18,753-Foot Himalayan Cliff, Shatters World Record Court Reserves Order On Summoning Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi In Land For Job Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.