City Congress Proposes Nana Patole For CM, Thorat Says MVA’s CM pick After Maha Polls

Nagpur: The city Congress unit has ignited a fresh debate within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition by proposing MPCC president Nana Patole as their candidate for the chief ministerial position. This move comes as political tensions escalate ahead of the impending Maharashtra assembly elections.
During a party review meeting on Sunday here, Congress city president Vikas Thakre put forward Patole's name, citing his leadership and party's recent success in the Lok Sabha election.Thakre emphasised, "Patole's leadership has been pivotal in rejuvenating Congress in Vidarbha. He merits a chance to lead the state, especially given his success in the Lok Sabha polls this year."
The proposal garnered strong support from local Congress leaders, who argue that Vidarbha should provide the next chief minister to ensure equitable development and reward the region's political allegiance. Senior leaders like Satish Chaturvedi and Anees Ahmed along with chief spokesperson Atul Londhe backed Patole's candidacy, underscoring his dedication to the party and ability to galvanize support.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was quick to respond, stating, "It's good to see enthusiasm, but the time for this discussion will come only after the elections. MVA remains a united front and that internal speculation about leadership should not detract from their overarching goal of defeating the BJP."
Patole himself downplayed the situation, focusing instead on pressing issues confronting Maharashtra. He asserted, "For me, the most crucial issues are those concerning Maharashtra's farmers, the youth, and the common man. Safeguarding our values, ensuring justice for the poor, and revitalizing the state's agricultural sector are what matter the most."
Congress senior leader Balasaheb Thorat reiterated that the decision on the CM post would be made post-elections within the framework of the MVA. He stated, "The decision about the CM will be made by the alliance after the elections. It's common for workers to advocate for their leaders, but the final decision will be taken with the MVA's best interests in mind."
When asked about his own interest in the CM post, Thorat said, "I don't wish to speak on this today. We don't want to make this a contentious issue."
Congress reiterates desire to contest all 6 Nagpur city seats
During the meeting, the Congress city unit reiterated its stance on contesting all six assembly seats in Nagpur city, signalling a potential rift with its allies in the MVA. While the alliance continues to negotiate seat-sharing agreements, the Congress leadership in the city is pushing for a larger share, particularly in Vidarbha.
Party leaders like Kunal Chaudhary, Atul Londhe and Vishal Muttemwar argued that the Congress has a more substantial presence in the city than its allies and should not concede any of the six seats to them. "Our allies lack a substantial base in Nagpur, and we are confident that we can win all six seats," Thakre said.
The meeting, which saw participation from key leaders like MLC Abhijit Wanjarri, women's wing chief Nanda Parate and others, focused on strategies to defeat the Mahayuti alliance in the forthcoming election.
The demand may upset the Shiv Sena (UBT) that had already demanded Ramtek seat and NCP which is eyeing the Nagpur East and Southwest seats.