‘20% work left’: Mahayuti alliance seat sharing talks progress, nothing final yet

According to poll pundits, the BJP is likely to contest 30 to 32 seats out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, "Very positive discussions were held in the meeting yesterday. I can say that 80 per cent of our issues have been solved, and talks are going on for the remaining 20 per cent. And, I believe that the remaining issues will be resolved, and a good alliance will be formed." (@Dev_Fadnavis/X)

Talks between the ruling BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP over the Lok Sabha seat-sharing arrangement in Maharashtra progressed on Saturday but remained inconclusive as the three parties were set to meet again on March 11 to finalise it.

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the talks as positive and said, “The outcome of the Delhi meeting was positive. Eighty per cent work on seat sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls is done. Now, only 20 per cent work is remaining. We are talking to each other over phone and in person and the issues will be resolved soon.”

ALSO READ | Gadkari to contest from Nagpur Lok Sabha seat: Fadnavis

On Friday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP state unit chief Sunil Tatkare and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in Delhi.

Story continues below this ad

“There was no final decision in Friday’s meeting. We will be meeting again in two to three days,” said a senior NCP leader. Sources said talks were being held for each of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and as of now, the BJP will contest 30-32 seats, the Sena 10-12 and the NCP, 5 to 6. The BJP claimed its right to a higher seat share basing its justification on ground surveys and the party’s organisational strength, as compared to the Shiv Sena and NCP, which are breakaways of parent parties. Both Shinde and Ajit Pawar were trying for a hard bargain to enhance their seat share by one or two seats more.

Discontent among Shiv Sena and NCP leaders had been visible since Wednesday following Amit Shah’s visit to the state when it was reported that the Eknath Shinde faction will get only nine seats and the NCP five. Both Sena and the NCP insisted that the meeting with Shah was only a preliminary discussion and a final number was yet to be arrived at.

Shinde, who was in Kolhapur, had left for Delhi on Friday afternoon. Before he left, Shinde said, “There is no reason to worry. The alliance has maintained good communication and will continue to do so with regards to seat sharing arrangement as well.”

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

Tags:
Devendra Fadnavis