Sena’s Raut tells Cong to learn its lesson and clarify whether it wants to contest alone or in alliance with Maharashtra

Reacting to the loss of Congress in Haryana Assembly polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said the Congress has lost an easy battle and insisted on declaring the CM face before the polls in Maharashtra. Raut said the Congress should learn a lesson from the Haryana polls and declare the candidate for the CM post. Raut also advised Congress that no one in the alliance should think of themselves as big or small brothers.

“The defeat in Haryana is unfortunate. INDIA alliance should have fought as a united front in Haryana. Maybe that way there would have been a different result. Had Congress formed an alliance with Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) and contested the election, then INDIA would definitely have won. Congress’s pride made them lose the Haryana elections. The three parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi should now jointly declare the face for the post of Chief Minister. Congress thought they would win this election unilaterally and they don’t need anyone.

Many exit polls were saying the same. I have not met a single person or journalist who said that BJP will win in Haryana. However, it is unfortunate that Congress has to witness this defeat. Many things can be learned from this. BJP has won the lost game. So no one should think of himself as an elder brother or a younger brother. It should also be noted that the success in the Lok Sabha was the success of the INDIA alliance,” Raut said.

He also asked Congress to clarify its stand whether it wants to contest the polls alone or in alliance and took a jibe saying Congress has a talent of losing the battle which they have already won. “If Congress wants to fight on its own in the country, it should take a public stand. If they take that stand, other parties will also take their stand,” he said.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole reacted strongly to Raut’s jibe. “We are not bothered about what Sanjay Raut says as the situation in Maharashtra and Haryana is different. If somebody does not understand that, then that’s a different thing altogether.

We will talk to Raut in our meetings and will seek answer about his statements. I can only suggest him that our coordination should send a positive message in Maharashtra,” said Nana Patole, expressing unhappiness over Raut’s public outburst.

“In states where Congress is weak, it fights elections by forming alliances with other regional parties and in states where Congress feels that it is strong, it keeps other parties away. Hence the results like in Haryana. Had INDIA faced the Haryana elections as a united front, the results would have been different. INDIA Alliance would have got majority. Congress lost nine seats. This is not a huge difference. Of course, we are not disappointed with this result. But, Congress has to take a stand. Elections are going on in many states. If Congress wants to fight there on its own, it should take such a stand. Then other regional parties in that state will take their stand,” Raut said.

He, however, said the Haryana results would not affect Maharashtra. “The results of the Haryana Assembly elections will not have any impact on Maharashtra because there are vigilant leaders like Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray,” he said.

On seat sharing, Raut said, “Seat sharing in Maharashtra has almost been finalised, but need to learn a lesson from what happened in Haryana and it should not be repeated in the state. It will have to be corrected in Maharashtra. Without the support of regional parties, no party can rule the country. Be it Congress or BJP. Today, the Modi government is running with the support of regional parties. Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government was also formed with the support of regional parties. Manmohan Singh’s government was also formed with the support of regional parties. Regional parties are needed and will remain so.”

While Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has been vocal, post the Haryana Assembly elections, Sharad Pawar-led NCP has chosen not to attack the Congress. “There is no question of difference of opinion (on a CM face). We are a team player. Whatever our alliance partners decide, we will agree to it. The most important thing is for the MVA government to come in power and nothing else,” said NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule.