Congress, Uddhav Sena, NCP (SP) reach seat-sharing deal in Maharashtra

Mumbai: After days of bickering, the Opposition parties in Maharashtra claimed that they have finalised seat-sharing for the upcoming assembly polls, NDTV reported.

Releasing names of 65 candidates, the Shiv Sena faction of Uddhav Thackeray said that each of three key parties in the Maha Vikas Aghadi will contest 85 seats of the state’s 288 seats.

The Sena UBT, Congress and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) will contest a total of 255 seats and the remaining 33, will go to the smaller allies of the MVA.

Suggesting that the formula is the first draft, it is reported that some of the remaining seats will be divided between the big three.

Sena UBT's Sanjay Raut and Congress's Nana Patole made the announcement at a press conference last evening.

Nana Patole said that the alliance finalized seat-sharing in 85-85-85 formula, adding the rest of the seats will be ‘given to the friends’ and ‘Whatever remains will be divided among us,’ he said.

Veteran leader Sharad Pawar mediated the crucial meeting of the MVA allies as it hit a blind alley over differences regarding seats in Mumbai, Nashik and Vidarbha.

It is reported citing sources that the alliance has to arrive at a consensus over 15 seats in North Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Mumbai.

The key parties in alliance are still wrangling over how many seats each of them would be able to contest.

The Sena (UBT) suggested 100 seats each for itself and the Congress, leaving 88 for Sharad Pawar’s party, but the Congress demanded 125 seats.

Polling for Maharashtra assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.

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