Maharashtra Assembly elections: 99% work on MVA's seat-sharing completed, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut announces 99% completion of MVA seat-sharing, with 100 seats expected to be contested.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday (October 23, 2024) said 99% of work on the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) seat-sharing arrangement has been completed and leaders of the three alliance parties are expected to announce the formula later in the day. Talking to reporters, Mr. Raut also indicated his party could contest 100 seats.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly are scheduled on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.

Top leaders of the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance met, in Mumbai, on Tuesday night (October 22, 2024) with indications that the seat-sharing arrangement for the Maharashtra Assembly elections has been finalised. The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar).

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After the talks, especially those between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, hit a roadblock, senior State Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat first met NCP(SP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday (October 22, 2024) and then Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Later, Mr. Thorat and other leaders of the MVA again sat together for a meeting that lasted for several hours at a hotel. Leaders of the three parties were involved in hectic seat-sharing deliberations which continued until late Tuesday night.

Mr. Raut on Wednesday (October 23, 2024) said, "Ninety nine per cent work on seat-sharing has been completed. By today evening, leaders of the three parties will hold a press conference. Shiv Sena (referring to his faction led by Uddhav Thackeray) is an experienced player, so it has to hit a century. There are expectations of people that Sena should hit a century in seats and overall victory," he said.