As the last date for filing nominations for the Maharashtra assembly elections is nearing, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition is yet to declare its candidate list for as many as twenty seats. Sources said the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT and Congress tried to bargain hard to get their favorite constituencies.
So far, Congress has announced it will contest 102 seats, while Shiv Sena-UBT declared candidates for 84 seats and Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP for 82. The three parties have declared nominees for 268 of the 288 seats in the assembly, leaving a question mark over the fate of twenty seats.
Sources say Congress is keen on getting Versova, Byculla, and Wadala constituencies in Mumbai, for which they wanted to negotiate a deal with Shiv Sena (UBT). The Shiv Sena has already declared candidates in these disputed constituencies. In return, they have offered seats in Borivali and Mulund.
State Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala reportedly contacted the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and MLC Milind Narvekar and signaled that if the exchanges do not take place, it is time for a friendly contest.
However, the Mahayuti alliance has covered quite a distance and has announced candidates for 281 out of the total 288 seats. BJP has declared candidates for 146 seats, Shiv Sena has announced 78, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP has named candidates for 51.
The rest of the names are expected to be declared on Sunday, leaving a few seats for the smaller parties. While the BJP was striving hard to contest 150 seats, it finally settled for 146, leaving four seats for smaller allies like the Yuva Swabhiman Party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Republican Party of India-Athavale, and Jan Surajya Shakti Paksha. On the other hand, Shiv Sena has given two seats from its quota to smaller parties, while the NCP has reportedly got 58 seats and announced candidates for 51.
While the assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20, the counting is scheduled for November 23.
