After Samajwadi MLA Abu Azmi’s tweet seeking permission from Akhilesh Yadav to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections went viral, he said the post was just a “reminder” and not a warning.
He said he wants to remind NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress that it is late, and it is time for them to jointly announce the seats they will contest. Furthermore, Abu Azmi said his position came amid reports that the Congress was about to announce its list of candidates for the Assembly elections.
“Maha Vikas Aghadi meetings are taking place only between Congress, NCP(SCP) and Samajwadi Party. Meetings with smaller parties are pending,” he said.
“I heard that the Congress will announce something. I said it is important that they take us with confidence and talk to us about the number of seats that will be given to us. That’s why I wrote on Twitter, there is no anger,” he explained.
Abu Azmi said his position came at a time when Akhilesh Yadav and Congress member Rahul Gandhi were in Jammu and Kashmir for the swearing-in ceremony of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister. Azmi said that he felt that his tweet would derail the discussion about seat sharing as many leaders of the Indian bloc were present in the union space.
Azmi said he has sought 12 seats for the alliance in the Maharashtra elections. He said the Congress does not have the power to step on the seats it wants.
“In Maharashtra, if any MVA party, be it Congress, NCP (SP), or Shiv Sena (UBT), releases a list of candidates for the assembly without talking to the Samajwadi Party or trusting them, it means they are not thinking. The Samajwadi Party as a part of LATER,” he said.
Maharashtra polls will be held in one phase on November 20. Counting of votes will be held on November 23.