Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said on Wednesday that an agreement has been reached on seat sharing between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Sanjay Raut said that MVA’s allies will contest 85-85 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. He said that out of 288 assembly seats in the state, consensus has been reached on 270 seats. The MVA alliance includes Congress, Uddhav Thackeray faction’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
Alliance leaders said that Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party (SP) will also be given some seats. Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said during a press conference, “We have decided that Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest on 85 seats each and on the remaining 18 seats we will contest with our alliance including Samajwadi Party.” We will talk to the parties and get their approval by tomorrow and we will form the government.
In terms of 85-85 seats, there were only 255 seats between the three parties. What is the mathematics of the remaining 33? Responding to this question, Shiv Sena’s Anil Desai said, “We have to prepare to fill the form and give the AB form, hence 85-85-85 has been agreed upon. The remaining part will be given to smaller friendly parties after some discussion.” Whatever is left, we will divide it among ourselves.”
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“We will include Samajwadi Party, PWP, CPI(M), CPI and AAP,” Raut said. Discussions are still going on for the remaining seats. We have amicably reached an agreement on 270 seats. “MVA is united to defeat the Mahayuti government.” Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the remaining seats would be left for smaller parties.
It is noteworthy that Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav had recently said that his party has demanded 12 seats from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters in Dhule district of north Maharashtra, the SP chief said that his party has declared its candidates on five seats. He said that SP is a party which is satisfied with a few seats. Akhilesh said, “We have demanded 12 seats (under MVA).” He said that SP has shared the details of those seats where it considers its position strong.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) released its first list of 65 candidates for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Wednesday evening, in which former minister Aditya Thackeray has been given the ticket from Worli Assembly constituency in central Mumbai. Yuva Sena leader and Thackeray’s relative Varun Sardesai will contest from Bandra (East) seat of the city. Elections for the 288-member assembly in Maharashtra will be held on November 20 and counting of votes will take place on November 23.