As all eyes remain fixed on Haryana’s upcoming elections on October 5, the political landscape in Maharashtra is rapidly evolving. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has confirmed that state elections will take place before November 26, when the current Assembly’s term concludes. This development has intensified the urgency for political parties to finalize their strategies and alliances ahead of the polls.
In a pivotal move, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Maharashtra for the second time in two weeks. His agenda includes reviewing electoral preparations in Mumbai, Thane, and the Konkan region, highlighting the importance of these areas in the upcoming elections. However, the process of seat-sharing discussions with key allies, including Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), poses a significant challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sources indicate that the BJP has decided that each party will retain its sitting constituencies, which translates to at least 105 seats for the BJP, 40 for the Shiv Sena, and 41 for the NCP. This arrangement leaves 102 of the total 288 seats yet to be decided. Senior NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal has emphasized that his party deserves 85-90 seats, arguing that they had settled for fewer during the parliamentary elections with the understanding that they would be compensated in the state polls. However, skepticism looms over whether the BJP will agree to this request, especially after Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attributed the low vote transfer from Ajit Pawar’s party as a contributing factor to the Mahayuti alliance’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
Amidst these negotiations, the BJP is reportedly pushing for at least 155 to 160 seats, fearing unrest within its state unit if it falls short. The Shiv Sena, on the other hand, is asserting its position, demanding 36 constituencies in Mumbai and 24 in Thane. The challenges in seat-sharing were evident before the Lok Sabha elections, where protracted discussions led to uncertainty at the grassroots level. The BJP, having faced setbacks in Maharashtra previously, is keen to avoid a repeat performance as the campaign gears up in the coming weeks.
Beyond seat-sharing, Amit Shah’s visit may also address the future of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Internal discussions within the party reveal two contrasting views: one faction advocates for Fadnavis to take on an organizational role in Delhi, while another believes that removing the party’s most popular figure in Maharashtra could send a negative signal ahead of the elections.
With only a few weeks left until the campaign intensifies, the outcome of the seat-sharing talks and internal dynamics within the BJP and its allies will be crucial in determining the political landscape of Maharashtra in the upcoming elections.
