Maharashtra Assembly Election: Mahayuti Inches Closer To Finalising Seat-Sharing Deal, Reports Say

As the Maharashtra assembly elections approach, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is close to finalising seat sharing, according to sources.

CNN-News18 reported that the BJP will contest the most seats, followed by the Shiv Sena and NCP. "BJP is likely to contest anywhere between 150 and 155 seats, the Sena 90-95 seats, and the NCP 40-45 seats," they said.

Multiple meetings have taken place to solidify the arrangement, with the announcement expected before the poll dates. "The distribution of a majority of seats has been completed. Around 25 seats will need a couple of rounds of discussion," sources added.

The alliance has conducted multiple surveys, with one of the main criteria for candidates being their chances of winning. In the case of sitting candidates, changes are expected only on 5-10% of the seats.

Political Shifts Since 2019

In the 2019 state assembly elections, the Shiv Sena, then led by Uddhav Thackeray, was united. Ajit Pawar was still aligned with his uncle Sharad Pawar.

Despite winning the majority, the BJP-Sena alliance collapsed post-elections, leading to President's rule. In a surprising move, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister, with Ajit Pawar briefly joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as Deputy CM. However, after just three days, both Fadnavis and Pawar resigned, and Ajit Pawar returned to Sharad Pawar's camp.

Uddhav Thackeray then formed a government with the NCP and Congress after winning the floor test on November 28, 2019. In June 2022, Eknath Shinde broke away from Thackeray's Shiv Sena, joining the NDA to form a government with the BJP.

Shinde became the CM, while Fadnavis served as Deputy CM. Months later, Ajit Pawar again split from his uncle, joined the Mahayuti alliance, and was appointed Deputy CM once more.

Sources also revealed that some leaders who lost in previous Lok Sabha elections or were not fielded may be asked to contest the assembly elections.

Challenges Post-Lok Sabha Elections

The Mahayuti alliance is focusing on strategically distributing tickets to maximize its chances of winning, especially after setbacks in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

The alliance faced losses among Maratha, OBC, and Dalit voters. Shinde's party is expected to contest more seats in Marathwada, with Shinde, a Maratha leader, as its face.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP contested 28 out of 48 seats, winning only nine. Shinde's faction secured seven, while Ajit Pawar's group won one.

In the upcoming assembly elections, Shinde will run from Thane, and Fadnavis will contest from Nagpur.

The current Mahayuti government has introduced several public welfare schemes, including the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides Rs 1,500 to two women in a family, benefiting 2.5 crore women in the state.

Frequent visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including an upcoming visit on October 5, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's trips are expected to strengthen the BJP's position in the state.

Union ministers Bhupendra Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw have been appointed as the BJP's election in-charges for Maharashtra.