Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday attributed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance’s defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections to a lack of cooperation and coordinated efforts among its constituent parties. Speaking to India Today, G Parameshwara highlighted internal gaps in collaboration between the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which he believes played a significant role in the opposition’s poor performance.
“In many places, we didn’t work for them, and they didn’t work for us. When we are in an alliance, we need to support Shiv Sena candidates, and Shiv Sena must support our candidates. The same issue occurred with Sharad Pawar’s party as well,” said G Parameshwara, who served as a Congress election-in-charge for the alliance.
The MVA alliance, which comprised the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP, managed to win just 46 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, falling far behind the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition, which secured a landslide victory with 230 of the 288 seats. G Parameshwara pointed to a lack of mutual support among alliance partners as a major factor in the MVA’s defeat, emphasizing the need for unified efforts in coalition politics.
According to G Parameshwara, Congress failed to fully support Shiv Sena candidates in several constituencies, while Shiv Sena (UBT) displayed a similar lack of cooperation toward Congress candidates. He also noted gaps in collaboration from the NCP, further weakening the alliance’s electoral strategy. This lack of synergy, he suggested, undermined the MVA’s ability to challenge the BJP effectively.
G Parameshwara also raised concerns about the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections, alleging manipulation by the BJP. “What we have discussed among our leaders is that, in our country, as long as we have EVMs, it will be very difficult for Congress or any other party to come to power. They [the BJP] are experts in hacking EVMs; they manipulate them wherever they want,” he said, suggesting that these claims need thorough investigation.
The MVA’s defeat has not only left the opposition alliance with diminished political leverage but also sparked internal criticism and calls for introspection. G Parameshwara’s remarks underline the challenges of coalition politics and the growing allegations over the role of technology in electoral outcomes. The alliance now faces the task of addressing internal rifts and strengthening its strategy to remain relevant in Maharashtra’s shifting political landscape.
