BJP Sets Target to Win 45 Lok Sabha Seats in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Buoyed by its success in the recent assembly polls of three major states, the BJP has set up a hefty target of winning 45 out of total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The opposition parties will be blown away in the storm of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

“The Mahayuti will fight unitedly in the Lok Sabha elections with its full strength in Maharashtra. We are preparing to win 45 plus Lok Sabha seats with a 51 per cent vote share. People of the entire state are firmly behind the Mahayuti,” said Bawankule on Wednesday.

Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). For the Lok Sabha elections, the ruling alliance has started grand preparations in Maharashtra, which will start with district meetings on January 14.

“The alliance leaders will start preparatory meetings for the Lok Sabha polls from January 14. The Mahayuti leaders will hold rallies on January 14 simultaneously in all the districts of the state. The meetings will be held to connect with the booth-level workers. The alliance partners will complete the division-level meetings by mid-February,” Bawankule said.

The BJP leader made it clear that a decision on the sharing of seats would be taken by central leaders of Mahayuti constituents which would be accepted by its leaders. The top leaders of Mahayuti – CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar – have agreed to accept the decision of their respective Central leadership on the allocation of seats.

“Obviously, workers of every party would want to contest elections. Ultimately, it is the Central leadership which will take the final call on this. Voting will be for the leadership of Narendra Modi and nothing else,” Bawankule added.

Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said that several opposition leaders are willing to join the Mahayuti. “There will soon be some more inductions, which will add to the strength of Mahayuti,” he said.

In Maharashtra, there will be a straight fight between the Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which comprises Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) and Congress.