Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP leader (Sharad Pawar faction), Anil Deshmukh said on Wednesday that talks over Lok Sabha election seat-sharing between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance partners are underway.
The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) are the parties in the MVA.
“The talks between the leaders of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP are underway. There is no dispute at all. Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leaders will make the announcement. However, before that, discussions will be tabled with VBA chief Balasaheb Ambedkar (Prakash Ambedkar) as well,” Deshmukh told news agency ANI.
Also read: Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to stay in Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance amid NCP crisis
Deshmukh’s statement comes a week after Shive Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut said that MVA parties had agreed on a seat-sharing formula in Maharashtra for the coming Lok Sabha elections
“We request him to come with us for the Lok Sabha polls, we are also hopeful that Ambedkar’s VBA will join us, and together we will take the final call,” Deshmukh said on March 6.
Also read: Lok Sabha Election 2024 : Seat-sharing deal finalised by Maharashtra allies, announcement soon: Sanjay Raut
The MVA parties are part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, an amalgamation of leading opposition parties came up last year to fight together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The NDA partners are also in the last stage of arriving at a seat-sharing formula.
Maharashtra sends 48 members to Lok Sabha and is considered the most crucial state for Lok Sabha polls, after Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs.
The MVA comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) is yet to decide the seat-sharing formula for 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Also read: Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Pragya Thakur, Ramesh Bidhuri and 32 more; Full list of MPs replaced in BJP’s 1st candidate list
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed leaders of opposition MVA alliance in Maharashtra as he said that there is a three-wheeled Maha Vikas Aghadi ‘auto’ in the state and all its tyres are punctured. The senior BJP leader stated, “Can this punctured auto ensure development in the state? No,” reported PTI.
Also read: Sharad Pawar talks about Congress’ ‘arrogance’ during formation of Maha Vikas Aghadi
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on March 3 said that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is a fight between dictatorship and democracy. The Shiv Sena leader joined hands with the NCP (undivided) and Congress to form Maha Vikas Aghadi and took oath as the chief minister, after 2019 assembly elections.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stressed on the unity between the MVA and Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) workers to counter the BJP and prevent potential authoritarian rule post 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Also read: Lok Sabha Election 2024: Shashi Tharoor vs Rajeev Chandrasekhar? High-octane poll battle likely in Thiruvananthapuram
The Shiv Sena MP also said that he had witnessed the way former home minister and NCP(SP) leader Anil Deshmukh was pressured in jail following arrest that alleged him of indulging in bribery. Sanjay Raut claimed that “He was released (on bail) and has some proof against the current government.”
The MVA government collapsed in June 2022 after senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde challenged Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. Subsequently, Eknath Shinde formed an alliance with the BJP and became chief minister of Maharashtra.
(With agency inputs)
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Published: 06 Mar 2024, 01:26 PM IST