In a bid to resolve the tensions over seat-sharing for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls, Congress’s state in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday held crucial meetings with former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. The meetings took place a day after tensions between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) over seat-sharing surfaced, highlighting the internal challenges within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
As Maharashtra prepares to go to the polls on November 20, the MVA alliance, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP, is yet to finalize and announce its seat-sharing agreement. Leaders from the three parties met again in the evening to break the ongoing impasse and speed up the negotiations. Meanwhile, another INDIA bloc ally, the Samajwadi Party (SP), led by Akhilesh Yadav, has already declared candidates for five of the 12 seats it is demanding within the alliance.
Sanjay Raut’s message: Regional parties must have space
Sanjay Raut, a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, sent a clear message to Congress, emphasizing the growing importance of regional parties in national politics. “The current national political landscape is being driven by regional parties, and they must be given the space they deserve,” Raut said. This was seen as a subtle reminder to Congress about the need to accommodate the demands of regional parties like Shiv Sena (UBT) within the MVA.
The filing of nominations for the Assembly polls begins on Sunday, yet both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition MVA coalition have not finalized their seat-sharing agreements, creating a sense of urgency on both sides. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who had cautioned against the protracted nature of the negotiations, stated on Friday that the haggling over seats must not push the alliance to a breaking point. Reflecting this concern, Congress’s Maharashtra Chief, Nana Patole, acknowledged that a deadlock remained over 25 to 30 seats.
Chennithala steps In to resolve the deadlock
In an effort to end the stalemate, Ramesh Chennithala visited Uddhav Thackeray at his residence, Matoshree, on Saturday. The visit came amid reports of friction between the MVA partners, particularly between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT). Chennithala played down these concerns, stating that his visit was primarily to inquire about Thackeray’s health, as the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader had recently been hospitalized for a detailed medical check-up.
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After meeting with Thackeray, Chennithala expressed optimism about concluding the seat-sharing talks soon. “There are no major differences between state Congress chief Nana Patole and Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. Leaders of all three alliance parties are jointly discussing the seat adjustments, and we expect a resolution in the next one or two days,” he said. He added, with a hint of reassurance, that “the health of Uddhav Thackeray and the MVA alliance is excellent.”
Later in the day, Chennithala also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other senior Congress leaders in separate meetings to further discuss the seat-sharing formula.
Raut highlights cooperation between Sena (UBT) and NCP
Sanjay Raut, who has been vocal throughout the seat-sharing discussions, took a swipe at Congress, saying that the negotiations between Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar-led) had concluded smoothly because both parties had the “desire and mindset” to resolve the issues. He pointed out that both Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP have their high command based in Mumbai, making it easier to finalize decisions quickly.
Raut reiterated that the role of regional parties must not be underestimated, suggesting that they should have a greater say in their respective states. He also mentioned that Akhilesh Yadav had spoken with Uddhav Thackeray regarding seat-sharing, and their talks were positive. The Samajwadi Party has sought 12 seats as part of its arrangement within the MVA, with five candidates, including Irshad Jahagirdar from Dhule City, already declared.
BJP takes a jibe at MVA tensions
As tensions continued within the MVA over seat-sharing, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not miss the opportunity to mock the Opposition alliance. BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar took a jibe at the ongoing seat-sharing negotiations, sarcastically suggesting that the police commissioner should implement rules requiring weapons of self-defense to be kept outside the room before an MVA meeting takes place. The remark highlighted the visible strain between the MVA constituents as they struggle to reach an agreement.
The road ahead
As the clock ticks down to the November 20 election date, both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition MVA are under pressure to finalize their seat-sharing formulas. While the MVA leadership is confident that the ongoing negotiations will be resolved in the next few days, the differences within the alliance, particularly between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), could potentially impact their electoral strategy.
With the nomination filing process beginning on Sunday, both coalitions must act swiftly to finalize their candidate lists and gear up for what is expected to be a closely fought election.
