Deadline for nominations over: Mahayuti, MVA finalise seat talks among allies: BJP to contest from 152, Congress 102

Among the Mahayuti allies — BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP, the BJP will contest from the highest number of seats, 152.

Among the MVA allies — Congress, Shiv Sena UBT led by uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar, Congress will field the highest number of candidates in 102 constituencies.

Shinde-led Shiv Sena will contest on 80 seats, while the third Mahayuti constituent NCP, managed to get only 52 seats. In Lok Sabha elections too, the NCP got only four seats to contest.

Meanwhile in the MVA, Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena UBT will contest on 96 seats while Sharad Pawar led NCP- SP will fight from 87 seats.

As they finalised seat-sharing arrangements for the elections to 288-seat Assembly, both Mahayuti and MVA left four seats each for their smaller allies.

In the MVA, the Samajawadi Party will fight from two seats — Bhiwandi East and Mankhurd-Shivajinagar. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will field their candidates from Dahanu (ST) and Kalvan (ST).

Among those who filed their nomination papers Tuesday was Rajesh Khandare of Shinde Sena, who will contest from Dharavi.

Earlier there was a speculation that the seat will be given to Mahayuti ally RPI (A) and IRS officer Sameer Wankhede will be fielded from there.

The Sena’s (UBT) Baburao Mane, too, has filed his nomination from Dharavi.

In Mahim, sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar filed his nomination as Shinde Sena candidate, paving way a triangular fight in the constituency — Sarvankar will face MNS’s Amit Thackeray and Sena UBT’s Mahesh Sawant.

The MNS is trying to convince Saravankar to withdraw his nomination to help Amit Thackeray, since party chief Raj Thackeray had supported the Mahayuti during the Lok Sabha polls.

Confusion persists over Shirpur seat too as both NCP(SP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) candidates filed nominations from this seat. The NCP(SP), however, has not mentioned this seat in its official list of declared candidates.