Nasik, Thane & Satara Put Mahayuti's Seat-Sharing Talks on Hold as Partners Squabble

The ruling ‘Mahayuti’ alliance in Maharashtra is facing hurdles in finalising its seat-sharing pact for the Lok Sabha elections with three seats proving to be the bone of contention among the alliance partners.

While the Maha Vikas Aghadi announced its seat-sharing formula on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, the ‘Mahayuti’ is still debating over the Nasik, Thane and Satara seats.

Just a few days ago, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced the candidature of Shrikant Shinde from the Kalyan Dombivali seat. Shrikant Shinde is the incumbent MP from the same seat and the son of chief minister Eknath Shinde.

The announcement of his candidature, however, came as a surprise to Shiv Sena leaders. According to sources, looking at the critical situation regarding seat sharing in the ‘Mahayuti’ alliance, Shiv Sena was planning to announce Shrikant Shinde’s seat later. The source also indicated that former MPs like Hemant Patil and Bhavana Gawali are not happy as their tickets were cut due to the negative results appearing in the internal survey. Hence, to stop this issue from boiling further, Shiv Sena wanted to declare the candidature of Shrikant Shinde later.

Another source in ‘Mahayuti’ said Fadnavis’ declaration came as a straight message to the Shiv Sena that the BJP wants to contest the Thane Lok Sabha seat and there will hardly be any compromise. This has triggered unrest in Shiv Sena over the issue.

Sena MP Godse met the chief minister but, so far, has only received verbal assurances. Reports suggest that the BJP has again shown negative internal survey reports about Godse in seat-sharing meetings of the ‘Mahayuti’, whereas NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, has demanded this seat for their senior party member and cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

If NCP gets Nasik seat, they may give Satara to BJP for Udayanraje Bhosale. In case Ajit Pawar compromises on Satara, only then is he likely to get Nasik’s seat for Bhujbal. Satara is the traditional seat of NCP.

Bhujbal, meanwhile, rubbished the speculative reports that he has been asked to contest from the Nasik seat on the BJP symbol.

The task in front of ‘Mahayuti’ leaders now is to rapidly iron out the differences between the alliance partners and announce the final seat-sharing formula.