Amidst ongoing negotiations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing pressure from its allies, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, regarding the distribution of Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. Reports suggest that while the BJP plans to contest 30-32 out of the total 48 seats in the state, the NCP and Shiv Sena are holding out in a bid to secure a larger share.
NCP leaders, including party president Ajit Pawar, executive president Praful Patel, and state unit chief Sunil Tatkare, are scheduled to visit Delhi on March 8 to finalize the seat-sharing talks. Tatkare clarified that no concrete numbers were discussed during preliminary discussions and refuted claims that the NCP was offered only four or five seats. He emphasized that the final decision would be made in Delhi. Chhagan Bhujbal, another senior NCP leader and minister, stressed that the party should receive an equal number of seats as the Shiv Sena.
The NCP has presented a list of 13 seats to the BJP that it wishes to contest, with a willingness to compromise on 11 seats. Party sources highlight that the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections should not solely dictate seat allocation, pointing out that the political landscape has since evolved, as evidenced by the surprises in the 2019 assembly polls. They argue that in constituencies like Dharashiv, Dindori, Parbhani, and Gadchiroli, the NCP holds a strong position in the changed political scenario. The party is optimistic that its demands will be heard by the BJP leadership, ensuring a respectable number of seats for contesting.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale has affirmed that no final seat-sharing formula has been agreed upon yet. Earlier, the Shiv Sena had demanded 22 seats. Negotiations continue between the allies as they seek to reach a consensus that satisfies all parties involved.
With the Lok Sabha elections drawing closer, the dynamics within the BJP-led coalition in Maharashtra are under scrutiny. The outcome of these seat-sharing discussions will not only impact the electoral prospects of the parties involved but also shape the political landscape in the state. As the NCP and Shiv Sena stand firm in their demands for a more significant share of seats, all eyes are on the upcoming meetings in Delhi to determine the final allocation. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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