MVA leaders say stalemate over seats ends, final list to be announced today

While leaving the venue, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut said, “There are no differences among MVA allies anymore and the formal announcement will be made Wednesday afternoon.”

The talks had come to a halt following differences between the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) over seats in Vidarbha region.

The Congress had deputed senior leader and legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat for talks with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar, instead of party’s state unit chief Nana Patole. The development comes after an altercation last week between Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, during a meeting held to discuss the seat-sharing formula. The Shiv Sena (UBT) was reportedly upset over Patole’s “aggressive behaviour” while Patole claimed the Sena sought the Congress’s winning seats.

Earlier, speaking to media after meeting Uddhav Thackeray for almost two-and-a-half hours, Thorat said that he has discussed in depth with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Uddhav about the issues in the seat sharing and since the issues have been understood, now all the three parties will work together to resolve it.

“We have discussed in detail about the issues, which are on only a few seats. I don’t see any major problem in resolving it. Soon we will sort it out. The discussion also took place in Delhi,” Thorat said.

MPCC president Nana Patole said that the seat-sharing talks are in a final stage and Thorat has been meeting with Pawar and Thackeray to finalise the talks.

“We will soon resolve the issues between us and announce our formula. But there is a big tussle and infighting is going on between the ruling alliance,” Patole said.

Sena UBT leader Anil Desai also said that the positive discussion has taken place.

After a Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on Monday, Maharashtra Congress incharge Ramesh Chennithala had told The Indian Express that the matter of seat-sharing has been resolved. “We (Congress) discussed and finalised 63 seats. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will meet Uddhav Thackeray ji and Sharad Pawar ji in Mumbai where all the seats will be discussed. After the discussions, we might announce the candidate list,” he said.

Adding that the Congress CEC will again meet on October 25, Chennithala said, “The final list will be announced on October 25.”

Last week, after tensions between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) escalated, the Congress had cancelled its CEC meeting to finalise candidates and urged the Maharashtra leadership to stay put in Delhi as Sena (UBT) leaders huddled at party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence, Matoshree, in Mumbai.

In a bid to put pressure on the other side, representatives of both parties met Pawar, seeking his intervention.The Assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20 and results will be declared on November 23.