Preparations for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections are underway. An MVA leaders' meeting about seat allocation commenced at the Sofitel Hotel in Bandra. Present at the meeting were Sanjay Raut, Nana Patole, Vijay Wadettiwar, Jitendra Awhad, Rajesh Tope, and Satej Patil. Sources reveal mutual agreement on 33 out of 36 seats in Mumbai, with 15 seats going to Congress, 18 to Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT), 2 to NCP (SP), and 1 to Samajwadi Party. However, there's a snarl regarding three constituencies – Kurla, Byculla, and Anushakti Nagar.
Opposition leader in the Assembly, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar remarked, "Discussion on 216 seats in MVA has been finalized. The remaining 66 seats will be discussed today. We're hopeful the seat-sharing announcement will be made by this evening or tomorrow."
Congress is set to release its first list of assembly candidates on October 20. Screening for 84 seats took place yesterday, and a CEC meeting will determine candidate names on the same day.
Before the MVA meeting, Samajwadi Party Maharashtra Unit Chief Abu Asim Azmi posted on social media, "In Maharashtra, if any Maha Vikas Aghadi party, be it Congress, NCP (SP), or Shiv Sena (UBT), publishes an assembly candidate list without conversing with or having confidence in the Samajwadi Party, it means they do not consider us a part of the MVA."
He added that announcing candidates without engaging the Samajwadi Party would be inappropriate, as MVA's aim is to bring all secular parties together to combat communal forces.
Abu Asim expressed his intentions to seek permission from our National President Akhilesh Yadav to contest as many seats as possible in the Maharashtra assembly elections, regardless of the outcome.
When questioned about Abu Azmi's comments, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar replied, "Abu Asim Azmi is with us; discussions on seat allocation for the Samajwadi Party will occur in today's conference. Just as they respected the Congress in UP, we will honor them in Maharashtra. Akhilesh Yadav, being their National President, may meet with him if desired, but we are confident there will be no dissatisfaction regarding MVA's seat distribution."
In another statement, Abu Asim Azmi warned, "We aren't issuing threats but reminding Aghadi leaders of past promises. Arrogance resulted in situations like those in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. Aghadi leaders pledged information by October 8, yet it’s already the 17th. We requested 12 seats, but there’s been no response from the Aghadi."
Abu Azmi further revealed that they weren't called for the 11 AM MVA seat-allocation meeting.
MVA’s dialogue and negotiations are ongoing as leaders strive to balance party interests and finalize seat-sharing agreements. It remains crucial for all parties to present a united front, keeping the state's well-being and people’s mandate in mind. MVA's tenacity reflects its commitment to Maharashtra's socio-political fabric.
As Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) works through complexities, they aspire for coherent governance and progressive policies beyond electoral divisions. Dynamics within the alliance underscore democratic processes crucial in shaping political landscapes.