Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Congress's Ramesh Chennithala Slams Mahayuti Over “Unequal Treatment” within Alliance

Congress's Maharashtra in-charge, Ramesh Chennithala, launched a sharp critique of the Mahayuti alliance on Wednesday, asserting that, unlike Mahayuti, Congress has provided "equal treatment to all parties" within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the days leading up to the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Chennithala emphasized that MVA candidates have filed nominations across all 288 assembly constituencies without internal conflicts, contrasting sharply with the turmoil within Mahayuti. “Mahayuti is now in disarray. We have ensured equal treatment for all MVA parties, while in Mahayuti, the BJP has seized seats from both the NCP and Shiv Sena-Shinde factions,” he stated.

In addition, he highlighted BJP's opposition to the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) nominating Nawab Malik for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat as evidence of this discord. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya recently described Malik as a "terrorist" who allegedly "attempted to divide India" and labeled him as “Dawood’s agent.” Somaiya further accused Ajit Pawar’s NCP of “betraying the country” by backing Malik. In response, Eknath Shinde’s BJP-supported candidate, Suresh Krishna Patil (known as Bullet Patil), has already begun his campaign.

Chennithala asserted that the BJP appears to be “undermining its own alliance partners.” In contrast, he noted that Congress provided official nomination forms only to candidates previously announced by the party, advising any Congress leaders who filed independent nominations to withdraw.

He hit out at the state government's Ladli Behen Yojana, claiming that financial constraints within the Maharashtra treasury have forced the Election Commission of India (ECI) to halt the scheme. “The government lacks funds for the Ladli Behen Yojana; promises made before the elections were mere lies, and Maharashtra’s women will receive no aid,” he asserted.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with vote counting for all 288 seats set for November 23.​