Amid rising speculation over the future of the opposition’s INDIA bloc in Maharashtra’s upcoming civic elections, senior Congress leader Nana Patole on Thursday downplayed Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s reported remark that there is "no scope for INDIA bloc" in local body contests, asserting that such elections are inherently driven by local dynamics rather than national alliances.
When asked to respond to Raut’s controversial comments, Patole refused to engage in a direct confrontation, stating, “There is no need for me to make a comment. I won't make any comments on Sanjay Raut.”
Instead, the Maharashtra Congress leader reiterated that civic body polls are fundamentally different from state or national elections and should be approached with a bottom-up strategy involving local party workers and leadership. “I have said many a time that local body elections are contested by taking local workers and local leaders into confidence. So, these elections should not be viewed like that,” Patole added.
