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The upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections are set to be a keenly contested affair, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance finalizing its seat-sharing agreement. Comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the alliance has decided to contest 260 seats out of the total 288.
According to sources, the BJP will contest 142 seats, the Shiv Sena 66 seats, and the NCP 52 seats. Negotiations are ongoing for the remaining 28 seats, with claims and counter-claims emerging from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. This intricate process of seat allocation is expected to be finalized by the end of the day, paving the way for the announcement of the finalized agreement.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on Sunday to participate in a joint press conference where the finalized seat-sharing deal will be formally unveiled. This announcement marks a significant milestone in the electoral campaign, providing clarity on the alliance's strategy and highlighting the key players in the race for power in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with the counting of votes taking place on November 23. The elections are being held against the backdrop of the split in the Shiv Sena and NCP parties in June 2022 and July 2023, respectively, leading to the formation of the Mahayuti alliance.
Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, has reached a consensus on contesting 200 Assembly seats. However, disagreements persist over 25 to 30 seats, leading to a stalemate within the MVA. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has stated that the party's state unit will abide by any decision taken by its high command regarding these contested seats.
Source: Mahayuti reaches seat-sharing deal on 260 seats, Amit Shah may announce tomorrow