Ajit Pawar-led NCP stakes claim to 13-15 Lok Sabha seats, strikes deal with BJP

The leader said that since its inception, the party has not been able to cross the double-digit mark in Maharashtra in Lok Sabha polls. “It will be made sure that we cross the double-digit mark this time. Shinde group has 13 MPs. They will decide how many will contest the Lok Sabha polls. But we have clarified that we will contest on 13-15 seats,” the leader said.

The party had won Raigad, Baramati, Shirur and Satara Lok Sabha seats. The AIMIM had won Aurangabad. Additionally, the Congress-NCP supported Navneet Rana who had won from Amaravati but she later chose to join hands with the BJP. NCP’s deal with the BJP is likely to further escalate tensions in the Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which is already fuming over reduction in the number of Cabinet portfolios to be allocated to them post entry of Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

Explaining the logic behind 90 seats, the leader said that the NCP has 53 MLAs at present. “In this, two Independents namely Devendra Bhuyar and Sanjay Shinde will be added which makes the number 55,” he said.

“The Congress has won 45 Assembly seats in Maharashtra. These are not only Congress votes. But the NCP too has helped them win. Naturally, we stand a better chance of winning those seats if we contest against them,” the leader added. As per the NCP’s calculation, it has a better chance of winning a total of 90 Assembly seats as it will be a ‘winning’ combination of BJP and NCP votes.