Mumbai: The opposition alliance in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), has finalised seat-sharing for the state’s 48 Lok Sabha constituencies, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) retaining the lion’s share of 21, the Congress taking 17 and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) getting 10 seats.
The Congress did not receive the contentious Sangli, Mumbai South Central or Bhiwandi seats, which it had initially demanded. Mumbai North West, which now expelled Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had wanted to contest, also went to the Sena (UBT).
The formula was announced Tuesday at a joint press conference addressed by Uddhav Thackeray, Pawar and senior Congress leaders Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat, and Prithviraj Chavan. The leaders said there were no differences within the alliance over any seat. “We declared the seat-sharing after mutual agreement,” Sharad Pawar said.
Thackeray said it was the right of every party to think of its own expansion. But the larger aim was to win. “There comes a time when we have to close the discussion on who wants what and start preparing for elections. Everyone has ambitions but the bigger goal is to win,” Thackeray said.
Giving a measured reaction, Congress state president Patole said his party was working towards ending “dictatorial rule” in the country. “The Congress is a national party. It has made significant contributions to the Independence struggle. The party is focused on removing dictatorship. So we have shown a big heart and given up the claim on disputed seats,” Patole said.
While the MVA has smoothed out its differences, the ruling Mahayuti is yet to find an appropriate formula. So far, the BJP has announced candidates in 24 seats while Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has released a list of eight. Ajit Pawar’s NCP has announced three and backed Mahadev Jankar of the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha for another seat.
The Lok Sabha polls will be held in Maharashtra in five phases from 19 April to 20 May.
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Uddhav keeps most of Mumbai
The Shiv Sena (UBT) got the largest chunk of the pie with 21 seats, including four in Mumbai, leaving two for the Congress in the state capital.
The Sena also took the contentious Sangli seat, which the Congress had fought hard for. The Congress also could not get Mumbai South Central or Bhiwandi.
“For us, saving the Constitution and democracy are more important. Showing an understanding attitude is not an insult. Our party workers should accept the decision and show a big heart,” Patole said at the press conference.
Patole added that there would not be any issue over sharing votes with the Sena (UBT), though the two parties have traditionally fought against each other. The alliance’s votes won’t be divided and will collectively be transferred to the contesting candidate in a particular seat.
In Mumbai, Sena (UBT) will fight Mumbai North West, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai South and Mumbai North East.
Mumbai North West, where the Shiv Sena (UBT) announced the candidature of Amol Kiritikar, also had its share of controversy, with now expelled Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam — who had contested the seat in 2019 but lost — having been keen on fighting again. He was expelled for “indiscipline” after he made statements against Kirtikar and criticised the seat-sharing arrangement.
The Congress got Mumbai North Central and Mumbai North, the latter of which was initially eyed by the Sena. “It is true that Vinod Ghosalkar had started campaigning in the Mumbai North constituency because there were discussions on who would fight from here. But now that the Congress will represent the seat, our party workers will campaign for its candidate,” Thackeray said.
Going forward, the MVA will now prepare a joint campaign and plan for joint rallies, the leaders said.
Thackeray thanked other opposition parties including the Aam Aadmi Party, the Samajwadi Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for standing by the MVA without demanding any seat. “We wanted even Prakash Ambedkar to be on our side. But it didn’t work out. Even if he speaks against us, we will not utter a single word against him as we respect him,” Thackeray said.
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Ambedkar parted ways with the MVA over a week ago and has announced 20 candidates so far.
MVA leaders also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the press conference Tuesday, with the veteran Sharad Pawar saying he had seen many prime ministers in the past but not one who had brought such “disgrace” to the position.
At a public meeting in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur the day before, Modi had called the Sena (UBT) “nakli” (fake), asserting that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was the real one.
Thackeray alleged at the press conference that the BJP was an extortionist party that uses power to collect funds through electoral bonds. “Narendra Modi and his party wanted to shift the Shiv Sena to Gujarat but I prevented it. Yesterday’s speech was not by the prime minister but by the leader of the Bhrashta (corrupt) Janata Party, which is extortionist,” the former chief minister said.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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