Maharashtra Elections: Mahavikas Aghadi Resolves Seat-Sharing Dispute: Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP to Contest 85 Seats Each

Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
Mumbai, 23rd October 2024: A week after the Central Election Commission announced the election schedule, Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) has finalized its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Despite earlier disputes over key constituencies in Mumbai and Vidarbha, the alliance’s three major parties—Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Sharad Pawar faction)—have each agreed to contest 85 seats. Ten additional seats have been reserved for smaller allies, with 23 seats yet to be agreed upon.

The official announcement was made during a press conference held in Mumbai today, following a crucial meeting between senior MVA leaders Nana Patole (Congress), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-UBT), and Sharad Pawar (NCP). Sanjay Raut informed the media that 270 out of 288 seats have been allocated, with negotiations for the remaining seats set to begin tomorrow.

“We have reached a consensus,” Raut said. “Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar) will each contest 85 seats. We have also agreed to allocate 10 seats to our allies. The discussion regarding the remaining 23 seats will continue.”

The MVA had faced internal disagreements over seat distribution, particularly in Vidarbha and Mumbai, where both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) were vying for the same constituencies. However, after two days of intense discussions, a resolution was reached. The seat-sharing formula includes the allocation of seats to smaller allies like the Left Party and Samajwadi Party from the respective quotas of the three major parties.

The negotiations also ended a long-standing internal debate within the MVA over which party held a dominant role. By agreeing to an equal distribution of 85 seats each, the alliance has projected unity, with Raut stating, “There was a discussion about who the younger or elder brother was, but now, with this agreement, all are equal in Mahavikas Aghadi.”

With the seat-sharing dispute behind them, the Mahavikas Aghadi is expected to focus on campaigning and finalizing candidates for the forthcoming elections. Further announcements regarding the remaining 23 seats and smaller allies are expected in the coming days.

This development marks a significant step forward for the MVA, which now enters the election race as a united front.