Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Reaches Consensus on Seat-Sharing for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
New Delhi, 10th January 2024: In a significant development, members of Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP – Sharad Pawar Faction), have successfully reached a consensus on seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The crucial meeting, held in New Delhi at the residence of Congress leader Mukul Wasnik, lasted nearly three hours.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut expressed satisfaction after the discussions, highlighting the unity within the alliance. He stated that all members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi left the meeting with smiles, signifying a successful agreement on most points related to seat-sharing. Raut assured that the alliance is committed to contesting the elections together, showcasing a united front without reservations about seat distribution.
The MVA alliance, a formidable political force in Maharashtra, aims to present a cohesive and united front in the upcoming electoral battle for the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala emphasized the widespread support for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, indicating that the alliance would be among the first to announce seat allocations.
Despite previous internal challenges, including a split within the Shiv Sena and NCP, the leaders conveyed a strong commitment to collaboration for the upcoming elections. It is noteworthy that the Congress is concurrently engaged in discussions for seat-sharing arrangements with regional parties in other states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The political landscape in Maharashtra witnessed significant shifts in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde, along with 39 Shiv Sena MLAs, revolted against then-CM Uddhav Thackeray. This led to a realignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), resulting in Shinde assuming the CM role and former CM Devendra Fadnavis becoming his deputy. Additionally, the NCP experienced a split in July of the same year when Ajit Pawar joined hands with the Shinde government and was appointed Deputy CM.
