Following Amit Shah’s strategic review, key leaders from the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP held a series of meetings on Thursday to address unresolved issues over seat-sharing. Around 90 seats are still in contention, and local leaders have been directed to finalize decisions within a week. The three ruling parties have agreed on sharing more than 195 assembly constituencies, most of which are currently held by their sitting MLAs. While some seats may be exchanged, official announcements will only come after approval from party heads. Disputes remain over 21 seats between the NCP and BJP, and 19 constituencies are contested by both the Sena and NCP.
Unity and Strike Rate
In meetings led by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the coordination committee of the three ruling parties discussed Shah’s advice to remain unified. He stressed the importance of avoiding internal conflicts that had previously hampered their Lok Sabha campaign. Shah also emphasized the need to focus on increasing their strike rate, rather than simply fighting over the number of seats allocated to each party. His message resonated within the alliance, pushing leaders to prioritize teamwork over competition.
Announcements Expected
The alliance plans to release its first list of candidates during the Navratri festival in early October, covering over 195 seats. The BJP, facing less internal dissent than its allies, is expected to announce more than 40 candidates in the first phase. However, both Ajit Pawar and Shinde are dealing with potential rebellion within their ranks. Some of Pawar’s MLAs have been in contact with Sharad Pawar’s rival NCP faction, leading to delays in constituencies with multiple claimants. Shinde is facing similar issues, prompting speculation that announcements for certain contentious seats may be postponed.
Smaller Parties and Independents
In addition to resolving internal seat disputes, the ruling alliance has agreed to allocate seats to independents and smaller allies within their quota. The BJP, for example, is expected to offer seats to the Vinay Kore-led Jansurajya Paksha and give one seat each to the RPI, led by Ramdas Athawale, and the Rastriya Samaj Paksha, led by Mahadev Jankar. Amit Shah has encouraged the alliance to persuade independent candidates supporting the government to contest the elections under the party banners. Shah, who held regional meetings earlier this week, is expected to meet with BJP’s Mumbai unit to finalize the city’s election strategy and review the alliance’s progress on seat-sharing agreements. Ajit Pawar’s NCP has claimed four seats in Mumbai, while the remaining seats will likely be split between the BJP and Shiv Sena.
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