'No friendly fights in MVA': Congress suspends all rebel candidates for 6 years

NEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday suspended all those candidates contesting against Maha Vikas Aghadi's official candidates for six years arguing that there would be no "friendly fights" in the alliance.

"There will be no friendly fights. All the rebels contesting against the MVA's official candidates have been suspended," All India Congress Committee in-charge of Maharashtra said.

This comes after the alliance's effort to persuade rebel MLAs from engaging in "friendly fights" to avoid splitting up votes remained unsuccessful.

Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has already made it clear there would be no friendly fights in MVA.

“In 7-8 seats, there are multiple nominations from MVA. We have time till Monday afternoon... We will find a way through talks,” he had said.

Meanwhile, the BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule also said that in Vidarbha, they expect 99% of the rebel candidates to withdraw from the race.