‘Hope results are not like in Haryana… How long can I wait for MVA to decide seat sharing’: SP Maharashtra president

* What are your concerns regarding the MVA’s seat-sharing talks?

They (the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar and Shiv Sena-UBT) have been fighting. Seat distribution among them must be based on a survey which shows who has the best chance to win a particular seat. I believe tussle over seat-sharing must be resolved at least 15 days before the announcement of the polls. I hope the results in Maharashtra are not like Haryana (where the Congress did not give even a single seat to the SP and lost the polls).

* Why has the SP declared candidates and started campaigning?

What else am I supposed to do? I will lose the elections if I do not start (campaigning) on time. I have asked for seats where I can guarantee a win for the SP’s candidate and where other MVA partners could not win in the past. This confidence enabled us to announce candidates for five seats.

* Are you hopeful of getting 12 seats from the MVA?

I cannot say what they will do.

*What are the factors that make the 12 seats you have asked for favourable for the SP?

Non-Muslim North Indians and Muslim voters largely make up our voter base. In some areas, Dalits and Maharashtrians too vote for us.

*What would be the SP’s possible role in the MVA?

Nothing is certain as of now.

*What did you discuss in your meeting with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday?

He heard me and asked me to wait for a day (for the MVA seat-sharing announcement). He told me that the Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT) tussle will be resolved by Monday and then I would be invited for the meeting. However, so far there has been no invitation.

*Why is the SP keen on contesting Raver and Amravati, the two seats which you did not contest in the past three elections and which the Congress had won in the 2019 Assembly polls?

The SP has never wanted to be known as the BJP’s B-team and does not want to contest alone, so as to prevent division of votes. Hence, we did not contest the seats. The day we start contesting the seats, we will be called a B-team (of the BJP). (But) What will I do if my party is not given space in seat-sharing talks? We are ready to let go seats where they (the MVA) have bright chances of winning and even those where it has sitting MLAs.

*What will you do if the MVA does not concede to your demands?

I will speak to party chief Akhilesh Yadav and contest the polls. The SP is a political party and it has to contest elections.

*What are your expectations from the MVA now?

I want to request the MVA to leave the five seats where we have announced candidates for us with due izzat and samman (respect) and a few of the remaining seven too.

*What are the issues that the SP is raising in Maharashtra?

While corruption is on the rise, people are upset with increased electricity tariffs. The roads are pothole-ridden and employment too is an issue.

The law and order has deteriorated so much that mosques are under threat. The Mahayuti government is also not disclosing the truth behind (NCP leader) Baba Siddique’s murder even though he was a ruling coalition leader. We will include all these issues in our manifesto.