Lok Sabha Election 2024: ‘Alliance with Shiv Sena will prove self-destructive for Congress,’ claims Sanjay Nirupam

Following Shiv Sena (UBT)'s declaration of candidates for five Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, Maharashtra Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday warned against the party taking an uncompromising position, emphasizing that such a stance would greatly harm the Congress.

As reported by ANI, Nirupam said that Shiv Sena should not take an extreme stand. “This will cause a huge loss to Congress. I want to attract the attention of Congress leadership to intervene, if not then break the alliance to save the party. The decision of an alliance with Shiv Sena will prove self-destructive for Congress," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena (UBT), which is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), disclosed its first list of 17 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh (80), will vote in five phases starting from April 19.

The party announced its intention to vie for a total of 22 seats in the state. Among the nominations, former Union ministers Anant Geete and Arvind Sawant were selected to contest from the Raigad and South Mumbai constituencies respectively.

“Candidates for five seats will be announced in the next two days for Palghar, Kalyan Dombivli, Mumbai North, Hatkanangale, Jalgaon. The names have been finalised," Raut said.

He said Raju Shetti of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana wants to contest from the Hatkanangale seat with the support of the Shiv Sena (UBT). This is the seat the undivided Shiv Sena won in 2019. “The party will take a call on whether to field a candidate from Hatkanangale or support Shetti," he added.

Additionally, the party decided to field all five incumbent Lok Sabha MPs who remained