MUMBAI, 10 SEPTEMBER, 2024 (GPN): Ahead of the Assembly polls in Maharashtra, The Maharashtra NDA Mahayuti alliance in the state is brainstorming which party gets to fight what seat. The Mahayuti alliance comprises of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has presented a detailed proposal to the BJP high command, requesting 107 seats for the upcoming state assembly elections. Sources reveal that the Mahayuti, the alliance between BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, will contest the elections under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s leadership.

This will mark Shinde’s first state assembly election after he won the battle for the Shiv Sena party name and symbol. The election is viewed as a matter of prestige for Shinde, who aims to demonstrate that his faction represents the true legacy of the late Balasaheb Thackeray.

The proposal submitted by Shinde includes a detailed analysis of the 107 seats, highlighting the caste dynamics of each constituency. The report also evaluates the relative strength of Shiv Sena candidates compared to those of the alliance partners. Additionally, Shinde’s proposal outlines potential candidates who should receive tickets if the party manages to secure these seats in the ongoing negotiations with the BJP.

Insiders familiar with the negotiations say that Shinde is particularly focused on securing the maximum number of seats in Mumbai, Thane, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), areas traditionally considered Shiv Sena strongholds. Shinde’s faction is keen to contest in constituencies where the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to field candidates. This strategy is seen as a way to establish the Shinde faction’s dominance in areas central to Shiv Sena’s political identity.

The BJP, as the major player in the Mahayuti alliance, is reported to be in favor of a direct contest between the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the UBT faction. According to sources, there is a possibility that the BJP may even exchange a few seats with Shinde’s Shiv Sena to facilitate this head-to-head competition.

This time, the BJP is aiming higher, although party insiders expect that after negotiations, they will secure around 130-140 seats, leaving 80-90 for Shinde’s Shiv Sena and 50-60 for Ajit Pawar’s NCP.

During his Mumbai visit, Amit Shah urged Mahayuti leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue and refrain from public criticism of each other. He stressed the importance of maintaining unity within the alliance ahead of the elections. Sources suggest that the seat-sharing talks are progressing and are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. Leaders within the alliance are confident that an agreement will be reached soon, ensuring a strong electoral front.

As per the seat-sharing discussions between the Mahayuti allies, the BJP might be getting the largest share of the pie. The saffron party may contest anywhere between 140-150 seats, GPN reported citing sources.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated on Tuesday that the party will support its Mahayuti allies, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, in the upcoming state elections. Bawankule dismissed reports suggesting a friendly contest in 25 constituencies where alliance partners are vying for seats. “These reports are baseless. The BJP will throw more weight behind the candidates of NCP and Shiv Sena,” he said.

The NDA Mahayuti alliance faces the formidable Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar. In the Lok Sabha election months back, the Maha Vikas Aghadi pulled off a stellar show, winning 30 out of the 48 parliamentary seats in the state. The Mahayuti, which managed 17 seats, will be looking to make a comeback in the state polls, expected in November.

Bawankule warned that if Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comes to power, it would halt these schemes. “MVA coming to power means closure of Ladki Bahin Yojana and free electricity to farmers. When Uddhav Thackeray was CM, the MVA had stopped 15 schemes,” he noted.

Bawankule reiterated that BJP’s focus remains on supporting its allies and ensuring the continuation of beneficial schemes. He stressed that any internal disputes would not affect their collective goal of winning the state elections.

Meanwhile, NCP (SCP) chief Jayant Patil made a huge claim on the Mahayuti alliance. Patil said that he suspects the BJP and Shiv Sena could ask the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to stay out of the pre-poll alliance so they can overcome their reduced popularity.

He said that the NCP might be asked to contest elections separately and will again join hands after the assembly elections. The NCP (SCP) chief noted that the BJP and Shiv Sena leaders criticised the NCP and Ajit Pawar also did not make public appearances with them.