MVA declares seat distribution for 255 seats, 15 for smaller allies – what about 18 constituencies

Of the 288 seats, candidates were announced for 255. What about the remaining 33?

Alliance leaders said smaller allies will be given 15 seats to battle it out. “We will involve the Samajwadi Party, PWP, CPI(M), CPI and AAP. Discussions are still ongoing over the remaining seats. We have amicably reached a consensus on 270 seats. MVA is united to defeat the Mahayuti government,” Sena said. (UBT) leader Raut told reporters.

That still leaves 18 seats, and also the question: was the alliance under pressure to put up a united front even if consensus was not reached on all seats?

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Desai said the MVA will divide the 18 seats among themselves. Will it be six each, a friendly battle for a few seats, or will an MVA voter sacrifice one or more constituencies?

The seat-sharing talks between the opposition parties in Maharashtra have been going on for weeks as Sena (UBT) and Congress have negotiated over a few seats, mainly those in Mumbai and the Vidarbha region.

The Congress is not keen to cede ground in Vidarbha after its strong showing in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

The MVA won 31 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 general elections, with the Congress winning 13 – the highest number of seats.

In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, and its then ally Shiv Sena (undivided) 56. The NCP (undivided), which was part of the UPA, won 54 constituencies and the Congress 44.

With inputs from PTI