Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has labored out a seat-sharing association however negotiations are nonetheless underway on at the very least 4 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, ThePrint has learnt.
Among the many seats which might be nonetheless below deliberation are Mumbai South Central, Bhiwandi, Nashik and Ramtek, mentioned a pacesetter aware of the seat-sharing talks. “Negotiations are on but there is no need for a separate meeting. We will discuss these seats one on one with the respective parties,” the chief informed ThePrint on situation of anonymity.
The MVA contains the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress, and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
Requested if the delay in finalising a seat-sharing system was on account of the truth that the undivided Shiv Sena historically put up candidates in opposition to the NCP-Congress mix in Maharashtra, a second chief aware of the talks mentioned: “It is not a problem. We will be able to solve these at the earliest. One of the tricky issues, however, is the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi factor.”
The Prakash Ambedkar-led VBA despatched a proposal to the MVA Wednesday saying he had already begun preparations to contest 27 of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats. Ambedkar additionally requested the MVA to contemplate fielding at the very least 15 OBC candidates and one other three candidates from minority communities.
When requested concerning the proposal, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut had informed the media earlier this week, “We will discuss Prakash Ambedkar’s proposal. And the heads of our parties will hold a meeting with him.”
Leaders aware of the seat-sharing talks confirmed to ThePrint that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will maintain a closing spherical of discussions with Prakash Ambedkar within the days to come back.
Ambedkar, alternatively, reiterated in an interplay with the media in Nagpur Friday that if the VBA have been to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections impartial of any alliance, it might win as many as six seats.
Leaders of the MVA, which was in energy in Maharashtra with Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister from 2019 until 2022, had met Tuesday and once more on Wednesday to finalise a seat-sharing system.
Whereas Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil dismissed hypothesis that the alliance is but to achieve an settlement on sure seats, spokespersons of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT) informed ThePrint that every one such points shall be resolved within the subsequent 3-4 days.
“Since we all are of different ideologies and have traditionally fought against each other, there are some discussions which are still going on regarding a few seats. But we can assure you that it will be solved in 3-4 days,” mentioned Shiv Sena UBT spokesperson Anand Dubey.
One chief aware of the talks quoted earlier, nevertheless, mentioned the announcement of the seat-sharing system shall be difficult since constituents of the alliance are cautious of poaching and people denied a ticket or informed that their seat has been allotted to an ally could threaten to go away the get together.
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4 seats in competition inside MVA
Among the many 4 seats on which the MVA is struggling to achieve an settlement is Mumbai South Central. A coveted seat that features the realm of Dadar — the place a memorial to Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray is located, in Shivaji Park — is held by Rahul Shewale of the Shinde-led Sena.
The seat was held by the Shiv Sena from 1989 until 2004, when the late Eknath Gaikwad gained it for the Congress. It was historically a part of the undivided Shiv Sena’s kitty when it was in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP), earlier than the formation of the MVA in 2019. That is among the many causes the Shiv Sena (UBT) isn’t keen to half with it which the Congress is eyeing because it believes it has a winnable candidate for the seat.
Bhiwandi in Thane district, one other seat for which deliberations are underway, is at the moment held by BJP’s Kapil Patil. It’s learnt that each the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Congress have staked declare to this seat, which the Congress gained in 2009.
The NCP, alternatively, believes that the Congress doesn’t have a major presence in Bhiwandi since its corporators had cross-voted within the mayoral polls for the Bhiwandi Nizampur Metropolis Municipal Company (BNCMC) held in 2019.
One other seat in competition is Ramtek in Vidarbha district. Right here, the Congress and the undivided Shiv Sena have historically fielded candidates in opposition to one another. In 2009, AICC common secretary Mukul Wasnik was elected to Parliament from this seat, which Krupal Tumane of the Shinde-led Sena gained in 2014 and retained in 2019.
Nashik is one other seat over which the MVA is struggling to achieve an settlement since each the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have historically pitted candidates in opposition to one another right here.
Requested how the constituents of the MVA plan to iron out these points, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Clyde Castro informed ThePrint, “The discussion is still going on over finer points and the seat-sharing arrangement will be announced soon. If you want to save democracy, all parties have to come together and put up winnable candidates.”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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