The Samajwadi Party (SP) announced on Saturday that it has withdrawn from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, citing Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s justification of the Babri Masjid demolition as the primary reason.

“We have quit the MVA. What is the point of continuing in the front where there is no uniformity on issues nor adequate consultation with allies?” said SP’s Maharashtra chief Abu Azmi while addressing the media.The decision follows a social media post by Milind Narwekar, a close aide of Thackeray. Narwekar posted an image of the Babri Masjid demolition on X, featuring Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray. The caption read, “Those who did this, I am proud of them,” quoting Bal Thackeray’s statement from December 6, 1992, hours after the mosque’s demolition in Ayodhya.

Azmi criticised Uddhav Thackeray for reneging on his earlier secular stance. “(Uddhav) Thackeray joined the MVA in 2019. At that time, he vouched for secularism to win the support of Congress. After the defeat in the Assembly polls, Thackeray is back to his old position justifying the Babri Masjid demolition. This is unacceptable to us. Therefore, we have decided to walk out of the MVA,” Azmi explained.

The MVA, a coalition of the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, faced a significant defeat in the Assembly elections, with the Mahayuti alliance sweeping the state. The SP contested nine seats but managed to secure only two.

“What is the use of continuing in MVA? They don’t talk to us. We were not part of strategies or ticket distribution,” said Azmi, who represents the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency.

Azmi also touched on the ongoing debate over the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). “I believe, keeping public demand in mind, the Election Commission should replace EVMs with ballot papers. There are doubts about the functioning of EVMs. It is being said they can be hacked and manipulated to make a party win or lose,” he stated.

A senior Congress leader responded to the SP’s decision, acknowledging their right to act independently. “After the (MVA’s) good performance in Lok Sabha, all smaller parties clamoured to rally around Congress. Now, after the defeat, they want to take their independent position,” the leader remarked. The SP’s exit adds to the challenges facing the MVA, further complicating the political dynamics in Maharashtra.