The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra is on the verge of finalizing its seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming state assembly elections. In a crucial meeting held on Tuesday in Mumbai, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) moved closer to consensus, resolving key disputes over the majority of seats.
According to reports, the alliance has agreed on the distribution of around 260 seats out of the 288 constituencies. The Congress is expected to contest 110-115 seats, bolstered by its strong performance in recent elections. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is eyeing 83-86 seats, while the NCP will likely contest around 72-75 seats. However, disputes remain over 25-30 seats, particularly in regions like Vidarbha, where the Congress is resisting Shiv Sena’s claims on certain strongholds.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut expressed optimism, saying that while there are some unresolved issues, most disagreements have been addressed, and the alliance is determined to contest as a united front. Congress leader Nana Patole also reiterated that the party is working towards a swift resolution and remains committed to the alliance’s success.
Despite rumors of internal rifts, including speculation that Shiv Sena might contest all 288 seats independently, both Raut and Patole dismissed these claims, attributing them to BJP’s efforts to destabilize the opposition.
With the seat-sharing deal expected to be finalized by Tuesday evening, the MVA is positioning itself as a strong contender against the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) alliance in the assembly elections, scheduled for November 20, 2024.
