25 June,2026 12:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) held a strategy meeting ahead of the Maharashtra Legislature's Monsoon Session on Wednesday, but the gathering also brought to the fore concerns over the opposition alliance's internal cohesion after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray publicly questioned whether the coalition was functioning as a united front.
The meeting assumed added significance in the wake of recent political developments, including the defection of six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The move has intensified speculation over the stability of the opposition alliance and the possibility of further defections.
Originally intended to project solidarity before the legislature convenes, the meeting instead highlighted the challenges facing the three-party alliance as it prepares to take on the ruling Mahayuti government.
Addressing legislators from the alliance, Uddhav Thackeray urged coalition partners to strengthen coordination both inside and outside the legislature.
"We say we are together, but are we really?"
He stressed that the alliance needed to move beyond symbolic unity and work collectively on political as well as public issues.
"Are we really together as the MVA coalition? If we are, we will have to work together not only in the state legislature but also on the streets," Thackeray is learnt to have told legislators.
Calling for a more coordinated approach against the ruling alliance, he also suggested that interactions among alliance partners should become more frequent.
"We will have to devise a joint strategy to take them on," Thackeray is learnt to have said, adding that such meetings should be held more frequently.
The meeting also served as an opportunity for alliance leaders to review recent electoral setbacks, particularly the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
The MVA suffered a disappointing outcome in the polls, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance securing all 17 seats, including six uncontested victories. The result has raised questions within the opposition camp about organisational coordination and electoral strategy.
Leaders reportedly discussed ways to improve communication between alliance partners and present a more united political challenge in the coming months.
Several senior leaders participating in the meeting emphasised that unity should be reflected not only in public statements but also through coordinated political action.
According to those present, the leaders stressed the need for joint public meetings, coordinated outreach programmes and a common strategy inside the Assembly during the Monsoon Session to strengthen the opposition's effectiveness.
The discussions also focused on maintaining better coordination between alliance partners on key political and legislative issues.
The attendance at the meeting itself reflected some of the organisational challenges facing the alliance.
Of the MVA's 60 MLAs, only 37 attended the meeting, while 23 legislators remained absent.
The absences, coupled with the recent defections from the Shiv Sena (UBT), have fuelled speculation about the alliance's internal cohesion ahead of the Monsoon Session. Even so, MVA leaders maintained that they would continue to work together to coordinate their strategy against the ruling Mahayuti government both inside the legislature and through public campaigns across Maharashtra.
