Maharashtra Elections: MVA Finalises Seat-Sharing Formula For Assembly Polls, Congress Gets Biggest Share

Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena will contest around 90-95 seats in the state, while the Congress will contest 103-108 seats and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) will contest on around 80-85 seats. 

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has finalised a seat-sharing formula for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly Elections. As per the seat-sharing agreement, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena will contest around 90-95 seats in the state, while the Congress will contest 103-108 seats and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) will contest on around 80-85 seats. 

Other smaller parties, including Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party are expected to get 3-6 seats. The opposition alliance will likely release the first list of candidates for Maharashtra assembly polls on Tuesday night. 

Meanwhile, the opposition alliance also finalised a seat-sharing formula for 36 assembly seats in Mumbai. While the Shiv Sena will contest on 18 seats in Mumbai, the Congress will contest 14 seats and NCP (SP) will fight on 2 seats. 

The Samajwadi Party and the Aam Aadmi Party, which are the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc will contest on one seat each. 

The MVA allies—Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP)—have engaged in discussions to finalise the seat-sharing formula for the assembly polls, scheduled to be held on November 20. 

Meanwhile, Congress is likely to release its first list of candidates on Wednesday as names were finalised on 63 seats. Congress state president Nana Patole, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan from Karad, and Nitin Raut may feature on the first list of Congress candidates.

Earlier on Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the MVA had reached a consensus on 210 out of 288 assembly seats, while Patole claimed that discussions had been completed on 96 seats.

There have been hectic discussions among the three main opposition parties, Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP), to finalise a seat-sharing dea. 

Meanwhile, reports said that the ruling Mahayuti alliance also seems to have finalised its seat-sharing deal for the assembly polls. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena is expected to fight on 78 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may fight on 54 seats and the BJP may fight on 156 seats.

Polls for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23. The term of the current assembly will end on November 26.