The delay in finalizing the seat allocation agreement among Maha Vikas Aghadi’s allies for the upcoming Maharashtra elections has raised concerns among small constituencies as the nomination process begins on Tuesday.
As discussions on seat sharing continue among MVA partners, smaller parties in the opposition bloc, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Left Party, and the Peasants and Workers’ Party (PWP), are gaining ground. more restless.
Aspirants from various parties flocked to the MVA office seeking tickets as the nomination process has been implemented-with a deadline of October 29. The continued delay in seat allocation has the potential to jeopardize the electoral prospects.
With the MVA having secured 31 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the last general election, smaller parties are keen to contest under the INDI alliance banner, effectively reducing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to just 17 seats.
While MVA’s main constituencies – the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) – participated in the Lok Sabha elections, smaller parties played an important role in supporting the INDI alliance campaign without participating in the general polls.
The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party has made a formal bid for 12 seats in the November 20 assembly elections and has announced candidates for five constituencies.
SP leaders voiced their frustration over Congress’ “mistakes”, which they believe could have led to their defeat in Haryana.
He said seat-sharing agreements should be finalized at least two weeks in advance.
“Unfortunately, due to the situation in the state and Maharashtra, these parties are busy with seat demands. Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) should complete seat sharing negotiations; Otherwise, same fate as Haryana,” SP leader said Abu Asim Azmi told PTI.
Azmi said he would not back down from the declared candidate, stressing that allowing either the Shiv Sena or the BJP to win without a contest was unacceptable. Notably, many of the seats claimed by the SP overlap with the claims of the Congress.
SP has been actively campaigning for the INDI alliance candidate in Maharashtra, even organizing rallies on his behalf.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party is also eager to contest the upcoming elections.
“We have sent the list of seats to the MVA party, and we expect clarity by Wednesday on how many seats we will contest or if we will go solo,” said the AAP leader from Maharashtra.
The Jayant Patil-led PWP has asked for six seats, specifically named Panvel, Uran, Pen, Alibaug, Sangola, and Loha, which are party strongholds.
However, there are overlapping claims for some seats. Alibaug and Sangola were earlier won by the undivided Shiv Sena. Later, the incumbent MLA, Mahendra Dalvi and Shahjibapu Patil sided with Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Last week, Deepak Salunkhe Patil joined the Sena (UBT) after quitting the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to fight Shahjibapu Patil.
“We have fought for our share. The eleven Lok Sabha seats won by the INDI Alliance is proof of the efforts of local parties,” said Jayant Patil.
The Left Party, which currently holds just one seat in the 288-member assembly, is also advocating for seat sharing as the nomination deadline approaches.
Pressure is mounting on key MVA allies to reach an agreement before it’s too late.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Tuesday said the seat sharing image in the MVA will be clear in the next two days.
Confusion over seat-sharing has caused significant heartburn for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress as they haggle over certain seats in the crucial Vidarbha region, which sees the Congress strong in the Lok Sabha polls.
Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat met NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in a bid to break the deadlock over seat sharing.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from the feed of syndicated news agency – PTI)
