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Insiders say Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress are particularly keen to secure more seats in regions where they have traditionally held sway, such as Mumbai, Nashik, and Vidarbha
Sources within MVA said Congress, NCP, and Sena (UBT) have reportedly agreed on the allocation of 85 seats each, bringing the total number of settled seats to 255. (PTI)
The much-awaited seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming assembly polls between the three primary constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) — remains unresolved, with a deadlock persisting over 23 crucial seats. Despite extensive discussions, leaders from the three parties are yet to arrive at a consensus, pushing the decision to another round of talks on Thursday.
According to sources within MVA, the Congress, NCP, and Sena (UBT) have reportedly agreed on the allocation of 85 seats each, bringing the total number of settled seats to 255. In addition to this, the alliance has decided to allocate 10 seats to smaller regional parties that are part of the extended opposition coalition.
However, the remaining 23 seats, seen as significant for determining the power balance between the three major parties, are proving to be the bone of contention. Each party is seeking to assert its dominance in specific regions of the state, leading to a prolonged stalemate. Sources indicate that the final allocation of these seats will be discussed again on Thursday in a fresh round of talks.
Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut said: “Our talks are going in the right direction. We have sealed the deal regarding a few seats. We will sit again and solve this issue as all three parties have agreed on 85 seats each and will resume our talks.”
Insiders familiar with the negotiations say the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress are particularly keen to secure more seats in regions where they have traditionally held sway, such as Mumbai, Nashik, and Vidarbha. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena (UBT), under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, is determined to expand its footprint, especially in areas where it hopes to challenge the Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction.
The delicate nature of the negotiations stems from the need to balance the ambitions of each party while ensuring a unified front against the BJP-Mahayuti coalition. With each party possessing its own regional strongholds and vote banks, arriving at a consensus on these final 23 seats has been a challenging process.
As the election date draws closer, there is growing pressure on the alliance to finalise its seat-sharing arrangement to ensure adequate time for campaigning and candidate selection. The MVA hopes to present a united front and effectively challenge the ruling BJP-led government in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive electoral battle in Maharashtra.
