City Congress proposes Nana Patole as chief minister, Thorat says Mva’s election as chief minister will be after Maha elections | Nagpur News

Nagpur: The City Assembly Unit has initiated a new debate within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Coalition proposed by MPCC President Nana Patole as their candidate for the post of Chief Minister. This move comes as political tensions rise ahead of the upcoming Parliamentary elections in Maharashtra.
During a party meeting on Sunday, Congress leader Vikas Thakre proposed Patole, citing his leadership and the party’s recent success in the Lok Sabha elections. Thakre stressed, “Patole’s leadership was crucial in renewing the Congress in Vidarbha. He deserves a chance to lead the state, especially given his success in the Lok Sabha elections this year.”
The proposal received strong support from local Congress leaders, who argue that Vidarbha should provide the next chief minister to ensure equitable development and reward the region’s political loyalty. Senior politicians such as Satish Chaturvedi and Anees Ahmed, as well as party spokesperson Atul Londhe, supported Patole’s candidature, underlining his commitment to the party and ability to mobilise support.
However, Shiv Sena MP (UBT) Sanjay Raut was quick to react, saying, “It is nice to see enthusiasm, but the time for this discussion will come only after the elections. MVA remains a united front and these internal speculations about the leadership should not distract from its larger objective of defeating the BJP.”
Patole himself downplayed the situation and instead focused on the most pressing issues facing Maharashtra. He stated, “For me, the most important issues are those affecting the farmers, the youth and the common man of Maharashtra. Upholding our values, ensuring justice for the poor and reviving the state’s agricultural sector are the most important things.”
Senior Congress MP Balasaheb Thorat reiterated that the decision on the post of CM will be taken after the elections under the MVA. He said, “The decision on the CM will be taken by the alliance after the elections. It is common for workers to lobby for their leaders, but the final decision will be taken in the best interest of the MVA.”
When asked about his own interest in the CM’s post, Thorat said, “I don’t want to talk about it today. We don’t want to make it a controversial issue.”
Congress reiterates desire to contest all 6 seats in Nagpur city
During the meeting, the Congress city body reiterated its stance of seeking all six seats in the Nagpur city assembly, hinting at a possible break with its allies in the MVA. While the alliance continues to negotiate seat-sharing arrangements, the Congress leadership in the city is pushing for a larger share, especially in Vidarbha.
Party leaders like Kunal Chaudhary, Atul Londhe and Vishal Muttemwar argued that the Congress has a stronger presence in the city than its allies and therefore should not give them any of the six seats. “Our allies lack a strong base in Nagpur and we are confident that we can win all six seats,” Thakre said.
The meeting, attended by key leaders such as MLC Abhijit Wanjarri and women’s movement leader Nanda Parate, discussed strategies to defeat the Mahayuti Alliance in the upcoming elections.
The demand could anger the Shiv Sena (UBT), which had already demanded a seat in Ramtek, and the NCP, which has its eye on the Nagpur East and South West seats.