Logjam over Mahayuti seat-sharing continues

Sources indicate that BJP to get 157 seats whereas Shiv Sena to get 78 and NCP 55

Mumbai: Even as the date to state filing nominations for Assembly elections is approaching the seat sharing between the constituents of the Mahayuti is yet to be finalised.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who had stayed back for a few meetings in the national Capital after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, told the media that all the coalition partners have reached a consensus over most of the assembly seats and issues related to only about a 30-35 seats remains to be resolved. He also expressed confidence that the issues will be resolved soon and that the Mahayuti shall win the state elections.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was at Nashik on Saturday after the late night meeting in Delhi with Shah, too said that everything is going smooth in the alliance. Pawar, after visiting the Tryambakeshwar temple in the morning, said that the CM and the two DCMs shall address a joint meeting soon to reveal the details of seat sharing pact.

According to sources, the BJP, that currently has 102 seating MLAs is likely to settle for 157 out of 288 seats. The NCP that has 39 MLAs is likely to settle for 55 seats and the Shiv Sena under CM Shinde is likely to get 78 seats even though they too have only 39 MLAs on their side in the present assembly. There are 13 independent MLAs in the current assembly while 15 seats are lying vacant.

All the parties in the alliance would get their seats where they have sitting MLAs. This means there is no difference of opinion over 180 seats. There are around 80 other seats where the alliance partners are on the second position. There are little differences over these seats also. Real tug of war is going on for the remaining lot of 28 seats, said a senior BJP leader. The issue is unlikely to resolve soon as it will primarily depend upon whom does the seat go to from the MVA side and whom does the MVA field.

Another leader said that the seat sharing in Mumbai has been settled and that the BJP is likely contest 17 or 18 of the 36 seats in the city leaving 15 for Shiv Sena and rest shall go to the NCP. The BJP wants to contest more seats in the state and hence other parties will be compensated with other political positions. That is the reason why it is taking a bit long to conclude the negotiations, the leader said.

“There are no problems. The talks were constructive and are in the final stages,” Shinde told reporters. “We have decided to move ahead with the task at hand. We want to bring the Mahayuti government to power once again and we are confident about it.”