Congress invites application for 288 Maharashtra Assembly seats

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Congress has invited applications from aspirants in all 288 Assembly seats of Maharashtra. However, the party clarified that it has no intention to go it alone. Asserting that the Congress will contest the Assembly election as a part of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi, The party said it is trying to assess its strength, which will help in seat sharing discussions with other alliance partners.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that the party’s decision to explore candidates for all Maharashtra assembly seats should not be misconstrued as its preparation to face the election alone. “The MVA is intact. We will contest the election in alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). A party should have its organisational structure and work at every place. An alliance will be formed as per the seat sharing on the merits. Preparing for all seats is not wrong, and even our alliance partners are preparing the same way. We will contest the elections as Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA),” he said.

Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe confirmed the party’s decision to gauge its strength in all Assembly seats. Asserting that the Congress will fight elections as part of the MVA, Londhe said, “It will help us to stake claim on a particular seat during our seat-sharing discussions. We will be suggesting names of aspirants who have a strong chance to win.”

NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapse also said there was nothing wrong in Congress’s decision. He said every party tries to gauge its strength and wants to contest the maximum number of seats. “Ultimately the leaders of all MVA parties will together decide which seat will go to which party and who will be the candidate.”

The aspirants for Congress ticket will have to send their application in a prescribed format to the party office in Mumbai before August 10. They will also have given party donations. Open category aspirants will have to pay Rs 20,000 to the party fund. Women, SC and ST aspirants will have to donate Rs 10,000 each.

The elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are due in October.