The Thackeray faction is demanding 17 seats, primarily in the Vidarbha region. On the other hand, the Congress is hesitant to concede any seat, especially given its confidence in winning all the seats in the region. The rift between the Congress party and its ally, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, has expanded over seat-sharing for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024.
According to reports, more than a dozen meetings were conducted, but the stalemate persists, particularly over crucial seats in Vidarbha and Mumbai. The situation has become a test for the MVA, with the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) factions battling over these key constituencies in Maharashtra.
This unresolved dispute focuses on 15 assembly seats, including 3 in Mumbai and 12 in Vidarbha. This has escalated tensions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
Now to resolve the dispute many meetings have been held, but no solution has been found. Top leaders, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress general secretary Ramesh Chennithala, are scheduled to meet to find a way forward.
The MVA alliance, which brought together the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP to challenge the BJP in Maharashtra, is now facing a serious challenge between themselves due to this expanding rift.
Despite a 10-hour meeting, no breakthrough has been achieved. Well, this is not the first time there have been disputes over seats in Mumbai and Nashik, leading to a war of words between Uddhav Thackeray’s faction and state Congress chief Nana Patole.
Why are these constituencies so important:
Vidarbha, which holds 62 assembly seats out of Maharashtra’s 288, is proving to be a battleground for both parties. Congress, confident by its success in the recent Lok Sabha elections where it won five out of ten seats in the region, is not willing to back down.
Shiv Sena (UBT), on the other hand, is pressing for a share of the Vidarbha seats, arguing that they have a strong presence in the region as well. A key leader of the Thackeray faction, Sanjay Raut, has stated that even though Congress has a strong base in Vidarbha, Shiv Sena (UBT) has held 4-5 seats there. He emphasized that sharing 1 or 2 seats would not harm Congress’s prospects.
Another significant flashpoint expanding the rift has emerged in Nashik West, where the Thackeray faction is pushing for their candidate Sudhakar Badgujar, while Congress insists on fielding its candidate. This dispute has also led to heated arguments. According to reports Sanjay Raut walked out of a late-night meeting due to Nana Patole’s insistence on fielding a Congress candidate.
Now in the Vidarbha constituency, the Thackeray faction has laid claim to 12 key seats, which includes Armori, Chimur, and Ramtek, which are currently held by the BJP and other independent candidates.
Despite the tension, Congress leaders, including Vijay Wadettiwar, have downplayed the differences, stating that discussions are still ongoing and a resolution will be reached soon. He emphasized that seat-sharing talks between the three parties in the MVA will take time and are still in progress.
Also read: Jharkhand: JMM-Congress To Contest 70 Of 81 Seats.
Amidst this, the Congress has also accused the BJP of trying to create a rift within the alliance. Party leaders claim that reports of the Thackeray faction threatening to leave the MVA are false and that the alliance remains intact. According to Nana Patole, the Congress has already completed discussions on 96 seats and further talks with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray will be held in meetings soon to finalize the remaining seats.
Meanwhile, tensions between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have continued to escalate, with both sides approaching Sharad Pawar to intervene. While the Congress claims that there are no major disagreements, the Thackeray faction feels sidelined and they have called for an emergency meeting to discuss the next steps. Uddhav Thackeray is expected to address party leaders in a meeting at his Mumbai residence, Matoshree.
Key seats under dispute include South Nagpur, Yavatmal, and Akola West, where both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are vying for tickets. In South Nagpur, Congress leader Girish Pandav is seeking a nomination, but the Thackeray faction is also pushing for its candidate. Similarly, in Yavatmal and Akola West, both parties are locked in a struggle for dominance, with the NCP also joining the fray in some constituencies.
Adding to the complexity is the seat adjustment made during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the Thackeray faction ceded key seats like Ramtek and Amravati to Congress. Now, with the assembly elections approaching, Shiv Sena (UBT) feels entitled to a larger share of seats in Vidarbha, including Gadchiroli, Bhandara, and Arjuni Morgaon.
However, Congress has refused to back down, citing its strong electoral base in these regions. Sharad Pawar has been working behind the scenes to mediate between the warring factions, but so far, no resolution has been reached.
The coming days are very crucial for the alliance, with all eyes on the outcome of the meetings between Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress leaders.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
