Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024: After Ramesh Chennithala meets Uddhav, stalled MVA talks to begin today

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said he was hopeful that the MVA would arrive at a consensus on seat-sharing on Saturday.

Maharashtra election screening committee meeting held at Delhi Himachal Bhavan on October 17. (@chennithala/X)

The stalled seat-sharing discussions among the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Opposition alliance in Maharashtra will begin at 3 pm on Saturday, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said.

The resumption of talks follows a meeting between Congress Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.

“We want to expedite the seat-sharing and hopefully we will reach an agreement on all seats today itself…The discussions which had been stopped will be resumed by all the three major constituents this afternoon,” Raut said after the meeting.

The Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) are the major constituents of the MVA.

Raut denied that there were major differences within the MVA. “No, we don’t have big differences in MVA. Whatever differences are there we will resolve them through discussions. In alliance politics, such differences on one or two seats are always there. But now we have decided to end the seat-sharing discussions today itself,” he said.

On Friday, Raut had alleged that Maharashtra Congress leaders were incapable of making decisions and said that he would speak to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and urge him to expedite the seat-sharing discussions. Raut had also alleged that state Congress leaders were frequently running to Delhi to get the party’s central leadership’s approval and this was delaying the seat-sharing discussions in the state.

Speaking to Marathi news channel ABP Majha, state Congress chief Nana Patole had said, “If someone says something about our leaders, it is but natural that I will respond to them. I had clarified that there is a certain procedure in our party which has to be followed. It cannot be a point of dispute. We have to tell those who do not know.”

Story continues below this ad

Asked if he was upset with Sanjay Raut, Patole said, “In Maharashtra, he has only two friends…One is Devendra Fadnavis and another is Sanjay Raut.”

When Raut was asked about Patole’s statement, he said, “Raut is MPCC chief and he will participate in today’s seat-sharing discussions.” Raut also clarified that his statement that Congress leaders were incapable of making decisions was not directed at Patole.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Maharashtra