Seat-sharing for 2024 elections: BJP wants to contest 4 Mumbai LS seats and give Sena 2

Political managers in BJP revealed, “In 2019 LS elections, the undivided Sena candidate Arvind Sawant won the seat as the Modi factor worked to his advantage.”

After the Sena split in June 2022, Sena ( UBT) has more challenges to battle in this constituency, so BJP with a suitable candidate sees Mumbai South as a good opportunity.

Amongst the two strong contenders for Mumbai South seat are Speaker of State Legislative Assembly Rahul Narwekar and cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Currently, Narwekar is an MLA representing Colaba and MLA Lodha is representing Malabar Hill.

On its part Shinde faction recently got former Congress Union minister and former MP Milind Deora to its party. Not long ago Deora was seen as a close associate of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. His joining Sena (Shinde faction) has been a big boost and reason enough to assert themselves for the constituency. In the past, Deora had represented Mumbai South in 2004 and 2009 as Lok Sabha (MP). In the last two elections in 2014 and 2019, he lost to undivided
Sena candidate Arvind Sawant. In case, Shinde fails to get Deora a Lok Sabha seat, he will be made Rajya Sabha MP.

In 2019 Lok Sabha polls BJP won three of six LS seats— Mumbai North Central (Poonam Mahajan); Mumbai North East (Manoj Kotak) and Mumbai North (Gopal Shetty). The other three seats —Mumbai South ( Arvind Sawant); Mumbai North West (Gajanan Kirtikar) and Mumbai South Central (Rahul Shewale)—went to undivided Sena.

As the Sena split, 40 MLAs and 13 MPS switched sides from Uddhav to Shinde faction. Amongst the MPs who switched loyalties include Shewale and Kirtikar who left Thackeray to join Sena (Shinde faction). The BJP will not compromise on its three sitting seats–Mumbai North Central, Mumbai North East and Mumbai North, and will retain them. Apart from these three it is bargaining for Mumbai South, which makes a total of four of six seats. The two constituencies BJP is willing to give Sena (Shinde) to contest are Mumbai North West and Mumbai South Central.
A Sena (Shinde faction) minister requesting anonymity said, “We are asking for three seats, but the final decision will be taken by CM in consultation with state BJP top brass.”

The state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “Sena ( Shinde faction), BJP and NCP ( Ajit Pawar faction) will contest LS and Assembly polls together. Our objective is to win every seat. We have set the target of more than 45 of 48 seats.

Every constituency and candidate will be chosen as per merit and winnability criteria. It will be a collective effort. In some cases there could be some give and take to protect each party’s interest and aspirations within our coalition.”