Mahayuti, MVA Confident of Finalising Seat Sharing on Monday

Mumbai: Amidst the reports of differences between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the BJP on Friday asserted that Shiv Sena and NCP will fight upcoming assembly elections as part of Mahayuti alliance. State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the Mahayuti will formally announce its seat-sharing formula in the next three-four days. On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress also denied reports of bickering in Maha Vikas Aghadi. Leaders of both parties confirmed that the alliance has taken decision on more than 200 assembly seats and talks on remaining 50-55 seats will be concluded by Monday.

The reports of Ajit Pawar’s face-off with the CM started making rounds after the NCP chief left the cabinet meeting on Friday within a few minutes after it started. Later, the Maharashtra DCM said that the cabinet meeting was originally scheduled to start at 10 am and he had other commitments in the afternoon. However, the meeting started after 11.30 am, because of which he had to leave mid-way, he said.

Mr. Bawankule also said that the three parties — BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP — have decided to contest the Assembly election in alliance and there is no change in it. “We have finalised 90 per cent seats. The remaining 10 per cent will be completed in the next three days,” he said.

The BJP leader further said that the party’s central parliamentary board will take place on October 13, after which CM Shinde and DCM Ajit Pawar will declare candidates of their parties for the seats they are contesting.

Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders also said that their seat-sharing talks will conclude in the next few days. All parties denied that Haryana election results will have any impact on the Maharashtra elections or the MVA alliance.

Leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said that the MVA will hold its final meeting for seat-sharing talks on Monday. “We only need to discuss 50-55 seats now. We have formed consensus on the remaining seats. The question of 50-55 seats will be resolved in our final meeting on October 14,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also denied that there is any dispute in the MVA alliance partners and all three parties — Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP(SP) — and the seat-sharing formula will be finalised on Monday.