Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi Begins Seat-Sharing Talks: Shiv Sena (UBT) Pushes for Majority in Mumbai

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has initiated discussions on seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming state assembly elections, with a particular focus on Mumbai. The alliance, comprising Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Congress, is navigating internal differences as each party seeks to secure a significant share of the 36 assembly seats in the city.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Seeks Majority Share

In a recent meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) asserted its claim to 20 out of the 36 assembly seats in Mumbai. The party, which won 14 seats in the 2019 elections before the split, is confident of its stronger position in the city and is pushing for a majority share. According to sources within the party, the leadership believes that they are in a better position compared to their allies and should, therefore, be granted the lion's share of seats.

Congress and NCP's Position

The Congress, on the other hand, is seeking 15 seats, a slight increase from the four seats it secured in 2019. The party has expressed interest in contesting the Chandivali seat, which it narrowly lost by 409 votes in the last election. Congress leaders have indicated a willingness to exchange the Vandre East seat with Shiv Sena (UBT) to strengthen their position.

Meanwhile, the NCP, now led by Ajit Pawar, is eyeing seven to eight seats in Mumbai. However, the party is yet to secure any seats following the defection of its sole MLA, Nawab Malik, to the Ajit Pawar-led faction. The NCP's position in the seat-sharing talks remains tentative, with further discussions expected in the coming weeks.

Internal Disagreements and Future Talks

Despite the progress made in the initial round of talks, internal disagreements persist within the MVA. While Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that 99 percent of the seats in Mumbai had been finalized, both the Congress and NCP have refuted this, stating that no final decisions have been made. The parties have agreed to continue discussions in future meetings to resolve these differences.

The Road Ahead

As the MVA works to finalize its seat-sharing formula, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP, is yet to start its own seat-sharing process. With elections approaching, the MVA faces the challenge of maintaining unity while ensuring that each party's interests are adequately represented.

The coming weeks will be crucial as the MVA attempts to solidify its strategy for the upcoming elections, with Mumbai being a key battleground.