MVA Clinches Seat-Sharing Deal for Maharashtra Elections
After weeks of tense negotiations and internal disputes, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition has finalized its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming assembly elections.
According to insiders, the Congress party will contest 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) has secured 95 seats, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) will fight for 84 seats. The remaining four seats have been allocated to smaller allies within the alliance to maintain unity.
Congress Bags Majority of Seats in the MVA Deal
This seat-sharing formula differs from the recent Lok Sabha elections, where the Shiv Sena (UBT) contested the maximum number of seats, 21 out of 48. The Congress’ victory in 13 seats during the Lok Sabha polls, followed by the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine and the NCP (SP)’s eight, was a key factor in its current dominance within the alliance’s assembly seat distribution.
The seat-sharing discussions, which had been dragging on for weeks, resumed on Monday with senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat stepping in as a mediator. Thorat held talks with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray to resolve tensions and finalize the allocation of seats.
Alliance Resolves Disputes Over Key Seats
Although most differences were ironed out, a few seats still require further discussion. According to sources, disputes remain over 12 key constituencies, including Sangola, Junnar, Khed Alandi, Chinchwad, Bhosri, and Paranda, which are being claimed by both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP). Thorat’s intervention helped reduce tensions and bring the number of contested seats down significantly.
The MVA’s final agreement ensures that the alliance enters the elections with a united front, ready to challenge its political rivals in Maharashtra.
