This is an archive article published on January 10, 2024
Seat-sharing for Lok Sabha polls: Congress begins talks with SP, MVA partners
Next Cong-SP meet on Jan 12; Raut says discussions positive, formula later
Written by Vallabh Ozarkar
, Manoj C G
Mumbai, New Delhi | Updated: January 10, 2024 07:33 AM IST
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Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot, Mukul Wasnik and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut with other INDIA bloc leaders after a meeting in New Delhi, Tuesday. PTI
In a meeting in Delhi Tuesday, INDIA and MVA members decided to include Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in the Opposition alliance, and in another huddle of the bloc members, the Congress and the SP formally started discussions on seat sharing to be worked out in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls.
In the earlier meeting, a decision to include VBA in the Opposition’s INDIA alliance and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has been taken in a meeting of MVA leaders held in the national capital, Shiv Sena (UBT) Sanjay Raut said Tuesday after the meeting.
A meeting of leaders of the Congress, NCP and Sena (UBT) was held at the residence of Congress leader Mukul Wasnik in Delhi to discuss the seat sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. After the meeting, Raut said discussions on seat sharing were positive but the formula will be decided later. “As you can see we all have come out of the meeting. We all sat down to discuss seat-sharing… I want to assure everyone that we will fight elections together. We have no differences about seat sharing…We discussed in detail about each seat,” Raut said in Delhi.
“We had a detailed discussion about including VBA and Prakash Ambedkar in the Opposition bloc and after that all partners of MVA and INDIA have agreed to include the VBA in MVA and INDIA,” Raut said, adding that seat sharing with VBA will be decided later.
Earlier in the day, Raut had said that Sena (UBT) has staked claim on 23 seats and they will get 23 seats to contest in the LS polls since the party has been contesting from the 23 seats for many decades.
“We will get 23 seats from the state that include seats from Mumbai and Thane, which have been our bastions. If there are any differences, we will sit and discuss. Our senior leaders, Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, Malikkarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi will meet and decide if there are any issues. I don’t see any clashes here. This is our fight against the dictatorship going on in the country. Under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, we have selected 23 seats after testing our base in 48 constituencies. You will see a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister in 2024,” Raut said.
In another meeting that followed immediately after, leaders of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), both constituents of the INDIA bloc, Tuesday formally started discussions on the seat-sharing formula to be worked out in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections against the backdrop of claims by the SP that it wants to contest in 65 of the 80 seats.
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The meeting, which both sides called it cordial, lasted barely 30 minutes. Sources said both the parties did not go into the minute details of the arrangement and decided to meet again on January 12. “The Congress knows that the SP, as the largest party in the state, wants to contest in roughly 65 seats. We will get into those details in the next meeting,” an SP leader said.
Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With approximately seven years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Senior Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai bureau.
Geographical Specialization: Provides exclusive and detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, operating at the epicenter of the state's decision-making in Mumbai.
Core Authority: His reporting demonstrates deep Expertise across critical and often complex state matters, including:
Political Dynamics: In-depth analysis of the ruling coalition (Mahayuti) and opposition (MVA), internal party conflicts, and crucial election updates, including local body polls and municipal corporation tussles.
Governance & Policy: Focused coverage on significant state policies, such as the overhaul of Mumbai's 'pagdi system' (rent control for old buildings) and social welfare schemes (e.g., Ladki Bahin Yojana accountability).
Infrastructure & Development: Reports on major urban and regional infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai Water Metro, Uttan-Virar Sea Link, and Thane Metro development.
Administrative Oversight: Follows legislative actions, cabinet decisions, and reports on issues of accountability and alleged fraud within state departments.
Experience
Current Role: His role at The Indian Express—a leading national daily—validates the credibility and standard of his reporting.
Career Foundation: Prior to The Indian Express, Vallabh contributed to other major metropolitan news outlets, including the Mumbai Mirror and DNA - Daily News & Analysis, providing a solid foundation in rigorous urban and political journalism.
Evidence of Impact: His work consistently breaks down complex political developments and administrative failures, such as exposing discrepancies in government welfare schemes, cementing his reputation as a trusted source for ground-level, impactful news from Maharashtra.
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