All’s not well in the MVA as differences have cropped up between Shiv Sena UBT and Congress on the issue of seat sharing in Maharashtra ahead of the 2024 poll.
Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has said the party is firm on contesting from 23 Lok Sabha seats — the same number it contested on in the 2019 election when Sena was in alliance with BJP. However, Congress leaders have shown their displeasure and will meet party president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Friday to discuss the issue. Kharge will then take a call on what must be conveyed to alliance partners over seat sharing.
Speaking on the development, former MP and Congress leader from Mumbai Sanjay Nirupam said: “Whatever happened with Shiv Sena and NCP is really unfortunate. Both parties have now split so it is difficult to predict how many votes they have with. In such a scenario, if anyone is demanding 23 seats, that is not the right approach.”
Raut, responding to the criticism, said Congress must not decide whether Sena has split or not. “MPs and MLAs are elected by voters. Leaders may change their party but voters remain loyal to the party. Shiv Sena had contested 23 seats and won 18 in the last Lok Sabha polls. A few who won last time may have changed their loyalty but seat sharing can’t be decided on the issue of split in the party. Rather, Congress has to start from scratch. But we are firm on our decision of contesting 23 seats.”
All eyes are now on Friday’s meeting of state Congress leaders, including Mumbai Congress Chief Varsha Gaikwad, with Kharge.
Kharge will be briefed about all 48 seats and Congress’s preparedness for the elections. The leaders are likely to give a presentation to the Congress chief about which new seats can be sought from alliance partners where the party may have an edge. Congress’s performance in Mumbai in the last two elections will also be discussed.
According to sources, Gaikwad is likely to propose a few changes to Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, including a few new names of candidates.
Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray is also conducting meetings with his party leaders daily to take stock of the situation. This will be the first major national election that Thackeray will face post the split in the party.
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