Written by Alok DeshpandeMumbai | October 13, 2025 06:55 PM IST 5 min readMaharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal. (Express Photo/Sankhadeep Banerjee)As political parties prepare for the local body polls set to be held over the next three months, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal said the decision of MNS becoming part of Maha Vikas Aghadi will have to be taken in Delhi. In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express’s Alok Deshpande, Sapkal said he has given authority to local units to decide on the alliance in the polls.Q: What is the party’s stand on the flood relief package announced by the state government?It is inadequate, misleading and nothing short of a cruel joke played on farmers. The government cleverly disguised aid to be given under NDRF as a package from the state and touted it as the biggest ever. It is not. How can the money to be given under crop insurance be a part of a relief package? Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is lying. Moreover, crops sown in the kharif season is destroyed, there is no clarity on the rabi season. Does the government have any plan? How are they going to make completely washed out and exposed land fertile again? We reiterate that the government must fulfill its promise of farm loan waiver and announce at least Rs 50, 000 per hectare.Q: Why is it that the Opposition failed to convince the farmers?A: We are reaching out to farmers. They know that they are being deceived by this government. The Congress party and the MVA partners are getting huge support because people are now understanding the anti-people policies of this government. You will witness this in the upcoming local body polls.Q: Will MVA contest together?A: Congress has given all the rights of forming an alliance to the local units. They can make a decision based on the local political situation. Every party, including those in the ruling alliance, want to make itself stronger organisation-wise. Congress too aims at strengthening its organisation. Therefore, the local unit has been given powers to decide on the alliance in the local body.Q: Is it true that you are not too happy with Raj Thackeray led MNS coming together with Shiv Sena (UBT)?Why do you think so? I am extremely happy that both brothers are reuniting.Q: Are you against contesting the election by joining hands with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena?A: It is not about being opposed to any particular party or a leader. We, in the Congress, have clarity on this issue. We are ready to form an alliance with the parties within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) or the larger INDIA front for the local body polls. How can I ask my party to ally with someone who is not part of the MVA? I reiterate that we are not against Thackeray brothers coming together. I am happy for the Thackeray family. But if MNS becomes a part of the MVA, it will have to be decided in Delhi by the top brass. If two (Thackerays) go to Delhi and speak to our leaders and clear the issue, then why should I oppose?Q: Does that mean your decision depends on the mandate from your central leadership?A: You can say that.Story continues below this adQ: Will Congress get the post of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council?A: First of all, the ruling alliance is not willing to fulfill the Opposition’s rightful demand. In a democracy, the Opposition should get LoP posts in both houses. I am sure the party will get what it deserves.Q: Will Congress be raising the issue of ‘vote chori’ in the local body polls?A: Not only Congress, but the entire Opposition. We will be visiting Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer on October 14. Our intent is that nobody should have any doubt in their minds about the transparency of the elections. The state is set to witness local body polls in coming months and I am sure that this meeting is of extreme importance.Q: Has Congress recovered from the loss it faced in the Assembly polls?A: We have begun rebuilding the organisation. We are organising workshops and study camps to strengthen the ideological base of our workers and at the same time, issue-based politics will be our priority. The party has for long ignored urban politics and we can no longer afford that.Strengthening our workers’ morale is my priority. The urban issues of infrastructure, traffic problems, congestion, rising property prices need to be tackled along with cultural ones. Whenever we talk about real issues, the BJP raises the issue of Hindus and Muslim. Communal politics is being used to hide the incompetence of the BJP. In addition, it is pitting communities against each other using reservation issues.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Maharashtra CongressMNS