Maharashtra Polls: BJP Gets Lion’s Share As Mahayuti Seals Seat-Sharing Agreement, Eknath To Be CM Face — Report

Maharashtra Election 2024: The Mahayuti alliance has reportedly finalised its seat-sharing arrangement, with the BJP set to contest the majority of seats at 152-155 seats.

Maharashtra Election 2024: The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for 20 November, according to reports. As part of the agreement, the BJP is expected to contest the majority of seats.

Sources cited by India Today indicate that the BJP is likely to be allocated 152-155 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will receive 78-80 seats. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is expected to contest 52-54 seats. This arrangement was reportedly finalised during a high-level meeting at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence in Delhi recently.

The seat-sharing arrangement, however, has reportedly caused discontent among some leaders within the alliance. As per India Today sources, certain Shiv Sena leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the allocation of seats, while a few BJP leaders were reportedly displeased after other candidates received nominations for seats they were interested in contesting. In Dombivali, state minister Ravindra Chavan has been re-nominated, a seat he has held since 2014, leading to local Shiv Sena leader Dipesh Mhatre's defection to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

The BJP is looking to replicate its successful strategy from the Haryana elections in Maharashtra, India Today reported source as revealing. In the Haryana polls, the BJP had focused on Nayab Singh Saini's popularity, which helped them overcome anti-incumbency sentiment. In Maharashtra, the BJP aims to leverage Eknath Shinde's popularity, positioning him as the face of the Mahayuti alliance.

Maharashtra Election 2024: BJP's First List Of Candidates

The BJP has already announced its first list of 99 candidates for the polls, while the Shiv Sena and NCP have yet to release their candidate lists. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will contest from his stronghold, Nagpur South West, while Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule is set to contest from Kamthi. The list also includes 13 female candidates, among them Shrijaya Chavan, daughter of Congress veteran Ashok Chavan (who joined the BJP in February), who will contest from Bhokar.

In the Mumbai City district, Ram Kadam will run from Ghatkopar West, Ashish Shelar from Vandre West, Rahul Narwekar from Colaba, and Mangal Prabhat Lodha from Malabar Hill. The BJP has also introduced several new faces in its candidate list, including Pratibha Pachpute for Shrigonda, Vinod Shelar for Malad West, and Rajesh Bakane for Deoli, who ran as an independent last time. Other fresh faces include Shankar Jagtap in Chinchwad and Vinod Agrawal in Gondia.

The single-phase election for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held on 20 November, with the vote counting set for 23 November.