Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has confirmed that 99% of the seat-sharing arrangement within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is complete. This alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Sharad Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has been engaged in extensive discussions to finalize seat allocations across the state.
Raut, while addressing the media, expressed confidence that the Shiv Sena (UBT) would contest around 100 seats, stating, “Our party is an experienced player, and we aim to hit a century.” He also highlighted that detailed discussions over individual constituencies were ongoing and would soon be fully resolved.
The MVA, which aims to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, has delayed its candidate announcements compared to its rivals. However, Raut assured that the alliance’s candidate selection process was thorough, prioritizing strong candidates in winnable seats. He took a dig at the BJP, saying, “Forming a government requires careful planning, which is why we took our time.”
Balasaheb Thorat of Congress and Sharad Pawar of NCP also played crucial roles in bringing the seat-sharing talks to a near conclusion. Thorat, after holding lengthy discussions with Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, confirmed that only a few contentious seats were still under negotiation. The final announcement is expected shortly, as leaders are keen to project unity within the alliance.
As the campaign gears up, the MVA remains focused on retaining key constituencies, particularly in Mumbai, where Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to dominate. NCP leader Jeetendra Awhad emphasized the role of Shiv Sena (UBT) as the leading partner in Mumbai, while Congress leaders have been advocating for a unified front to counter the BJP’s influence in the state.
The MVA faces an uphill battle, but the alliance is confident that their collective strategy will resonate with voters in the upcoming elections.
