MVA aims for 180 seats in Maharashtra Assembly elections

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition is making significant progress in seat-sharing discussions for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat announced that they have reached an agreement on over 125 seats, with expectations to secure around 180 out of 288 total seats. The discussions have been ongoing, with multiple meetings held, and are set to conclude after the Ganesh festival. The first meeting focused on Mumbai seats, where the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress are vying for a larger share. The Shiv Sena has requested 18-20 seats, while Congress is seeking 14-16. The NCP faction, benefiting from a strong performance in the Lok Sabha elections, is also pushing for key seats across the state. Notably, five Mumbai seats remain unclaimed by the MVA partners, all currently held by BJP MLAs. Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena (UBT) indicated that a 99% consensus has been reached regarding the allocation of Mumbai seats, suggesting that historical party affiliations will influence seat retention. In cases where MLAs have departed, the seats are likely to be reassigned to the party with a stronger presence in that area. Additionally, there are discussions about the potential inclusion of AIMIM in the MVA, although opposition leader Ambadas Danve has expressed concerns about AIMIM's disruptive nature. The coalition's ability to finalize seat-sharing arrangements will be crucial for their strategy in the upcoming elections.