The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) has reached a preliminary understanding for approximately 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, with negotiations continuing for the remaining eight seats, including the significant Mumbai (South) constituency, according to informed sources.
The Congress held a formal meeting with ally Samajwadi Party (SP) for Uttar Pradesh, during which some Congress leaders suggested that the SP should take the lead if Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party is considered later. However, the SP indicated it had no plans to approach the BSP.
The Congress’s national alliance committee convened with the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, and the SP at the residence of panel chairman Mukul Wasnik. The discussions involved key members such as former Union minister Salman Khurshid, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, and Congress veteran Mohan Prakash.
According to sources, in the potential arrangement, the Sena and Congress may receive 18-20 seats each, while Pawar’s NCP is expected to secure 8-10 seats. Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi might receive two seats, and Swabhimani Paksha leader Raju Shetty, an I.N.D.I.A. partner, might secure one seat.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Sena, NCP, and Congress, controlled Maharashtra until its government fell in 2022 following a split in the Sena and later the NCP.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut emphasized the unity within MVA, stating, “Maharashtra will see a large number of seats for I.N.D.I.A.. There is no difference on seat sharing. We will fight elections together.”
Congress incharge for Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, highlighted the cordial nature of the meeting and anticipated Maharashtra being the first state to announce the alliance’s seat distribution.
While there was a general agreement on about 40 seats, at least eight seats require further negotiations, particularly those where both Sena and Congress have a strong presence, according to senior Congress leaders. Mumbai (South), currently with the Sena for a decade, is among the contested seats.
This marks the first collaboration between erstwhile rivals Sena and Congress in the Lok Sabha polls as the MVA was formed after the 2019 elections.
With Maharashtra holding 48 seats, the highest after Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats, discussions are crucial for the alliance’s electoral strategy.