Overview
- Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said no request has been received from the MNS to join the MVA or INDIA bloc and any decision would be taken collectively by alliance partners.
- Raj Thackeray joined Opposition leaders in meetings with state election officials over alleged voter‑roll irregularities, a move Congress leaders stressed was unrelated to alliance negotiations.
- Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) leaders voiced openness to including the MNS, while many Congress leaders object given Bihar election optics and the MNS’s past targeting of non‑Marathi and Muslim communities.
- Following reports he had complained to Congress high command about Sapkal’s stance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated he had not sent any letter.
- Critics accused Congress of allowing a ‘backdoor’ entry for the MNS by appearing together in delegations, as municipal poll deadlines near and the ruling Mahayuti grapples with internal tussles over Mumbai and Thane mayoral claims.